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BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGH, 



llcmiiusaitas uf tl]^ CtimjHigu, 



HOSPITAL EXPERIENCES, DEBATES, ETC. 



BY JAMES R. BURNS. 



NEW YORK : 
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

18G5. 



L 



.yf '/-? 



DEDICATION". 



What, dear reader, -would you have me do ? 

Would'st thou that I should dedi-cate this book to you ? 

Or is thy conscience with treason rife, 

That thou should'st take a part in this unholy strife ? 

For, if this thy foul intention be, 

I will not, must not, dedicate this book to thee. 

But if thou'rt of a different mind, 

And thy heart to treason has not been inclined — 

Then I with true patriotic fire, 

Nor kindled by a fantastic vain desire, 

Do, in honor of the brave and true, 

Dedicate this book to you. 

The author. 




INTRODUCTION. 

Dear Reader : 

In order to give you an account 
of the battle of Williamsburg-, that you 
may become more fully informed of the 
occurrences and particulars of that 
bloody fight, I have compiled this work. 
It was there I lost my right arm, and 
received a wound in my left leg, which 
have crippled me for life ; for these rea- 
sons I have taken a more special in- 
terest in its preparation. 

Before going into action, our regi- 
ment (the Seventy-fourth New York) 
halted on the road about two hundred 
yards from the field of battle. Yvliile 
doing this, I availed myself of the favor- 
able opportunity to make a cup of tea 
and lunch before entering among rebel 
bullets. I made a fire on the side of 
the road, took some water from a pool 



IV IXTEODUCTIOTT. 

adjoining', and made as good a cup of 
tea as any soldier need desire. When 
I '2:oi tliroLi^rh drinkim^" it, the order was 
g"iven to fall in, and prepare for the con- 
test. We marched on the field amid a 
shower of bullets from the enemy, and 
made all haste to return the compli- 
ment, because we were well aware 
that it had been sent with a good inten- 
tion. We foug-ht well and bravely 
against great odds ; never did troops 
fight better than ours on that long-to- 
be-remembered fifth of May. I say 
ours, because I am confident that the 
brigade to which I belonged did its 
duty. In the evening, your humble 
servant was wounded, and tlirew him- 
self down between two trees. In a 
few moments my comrades got the 
command — Retreat; they then retreated 
about fifty yards from their former po 
sition. In short, I was in the company 
of rebels, who, when they saw that I 



INTRODirOTIOX. V 

was wounded, g-ave me water to drink ; 
a kindness not expected from rebel 
hands. One young- man asked me to 
what regiment I belonged, and when I 
told him to the Seventy-fourth New 
York, he immediately said : " That is 
the Sickles Brigade." Then this sym- 
pathizing- rebel said : '' Young man, I 
pity your condition, but we must fight ; 
this is a cruel war, and I have two 
hundred dollars in my possession, and 
would willingly give that sum, as my 
share, to put an end to this bloodshed, 
but allow me to say that you are fight- 
ing in a bad cause." One of his com- 
rades, a big, burly rebel asked why I 
fought against them, or if I was fighting 
for niggers. I answered : '' To pre- 
serve the Union, and for no other pur- 
pose have any of our men enlisted." 
He immediately retorted with the an- 
swer : " We'll preserve the Union for 
you." 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

These men belonged to the Fifth 
North Carohna regiment. Siiortly after, 
another rebel came up, whom I asked 
for a drink ; he told me he had nothing" 
but molasses, but would give me some 
of that. So he put his canteen to my 
mouth, and I drank of the sweet bever- 
age nearly a pint. About nightfall a 
rebel came to me and had the assur- 
ance to ask if my watch was a good 
timekeeper, he having seen the chain 
hanging from my pocket. I told him 
it was not a bad one. He said that he 
would take it and send an ambulance 
to convey me to the hospital. I re- 
plied that I did not wish him to have 
it, as it was a memento of my father. 
This specimen of Southern Chivalry, 
having a peculiar fancy for such a pre- 
cious article, seized his prize and 
bounded away to the tune of " Dixie." 

Yours truly. 



EEMmiSCEXCES. 



While the Excelsior Brigade was en- 
camped within two miles of Port Tobacco, 
Maryland, and near the Potomac, several 
slaves had deserted from their masters, and 
would have come into our lines, if we had 
assured them protection. Orders were often 
issued prohibiting them from entering camp, 
and they were not unfrequently seized and 
sent back to their brutal masters, to be tor- 
tured by them even unto death ; and as an 
illustration : 

While the regiment to which I then be- 
longed was leaving Port Tobacco for Livei*^ 
pool Point, some sla\''e owners came along 
scanning the men in each company to try 
and find out the slaves whom they had lost. 
One of them, whose name was Cox, came 
forward and made an attempt to rescue his 
man Jack, from the company of which I 
was a member. This man had obtained 
some valuable information while in the ser- 



8 EEMINISCENCES. 

vice of liis master, and had imparted tliis to 
our officers, who sent immediately an escort 
of men with him to make some captures. 
Jack proved, however, being an intelligent 
negro, to carry out successfully the plan 
which he had formed. It resulted in the 
capture of a very handsome secesh flag 
which his young mistress had so tastefully 
prepared for her friends in Dixie. Also a 
number of ball cartridges, percussion caps, 
fire-arms to the number of sixty, and some 
highly finished swords, which the owner had 
carefully sharj)ened to amputate the heads 
of '' Yankee Mudsills." For the non-accom- 
plishment of this treachery by his master. 
Jack had become the victim, and it was 
deemed expedient, for the sake of the 
Southern cause, to have him arrested. To 
accomplish tliis, his master, in company 
with another, rode up the second time, 
seized his man, and was about to give him 
a sound whipping, were he not prevented 
by our men, who had, in lieu of the service 
rendered, taken Jack under their protec- 
tion. 



REMINISCEXCES. 9 

Mr. Cox, or Capt., as he was then called, 
being in commaiid of a company of Yir- 
ginians, had determined, in some manner, 
to obtain his man, and be, by bribes and 
promises to some of our officers, succeeded 
in having him given up. This was done 
very secretly, and to carry out the plan, our 
captain, who had imbibed rather freely of 
the juice of the grape through the good- 
naturedness of his friend, Mr. Cox, sent two 
men, with their black charge, back to Port 
Tobacco, there to be tried and condemned 
by a court of slave-owners. 

The result was as expected ; poor Jack, 
convicted, tied to a tree, and when in that 
position, was lacerated by his brutal master 
nntil life had left its time-worn frame. I 
will here mention that he was above fifty 
years old, and had been in the employ of 
his master for twenty years. 

Having arrived at Liverpool Point, we 
are about to select a suitable spot where we 
may pitch our tents and look across the 
sparkling waters of the Potomac, into the 
promised sacred soil of Yirginia. 
1^ 



10 EEMINISCENCES. 

On the 9tli of Marcli, the rebels evac- 
uated this point, burning up their camps, 
and leaving nothing but a heap of ruins; 
it was reported that they were going to rein- 
force Fredericksburg and Yorktown, which 
proved to be true. 

On Sunday, the 6th of April, our regi- 
ment took leave of Camp Magaw, Liverpool 
Point. This camp was called after a cap- 
tain of the same name, Avho tlien had com- 
mand of the fleet on the river. We re- 
mained on board for three successive days, 
owing to some difficulty with our general in 
Washington. 

It was reported that he had lost command ^ 
and that Colonel Taylor, of the 3d Excelsior, 
had superseded him. The difficulty, how 
ever, being settled, General Sickles resumec 
his office. He is a brave soldier, and we woulc 
be sorry to lose him. lie conducted us int( 
Virginia with a coolness and courage rarel;) 
exhibited by any other. See him leading 
on his brave little band of fourteen hundrec 
men to Stafford Court House, capturing 
that place, together with a number of com 



EEMINISCENCE5. 11 

missaiy stores. I will not enter into a de- 
tail of the articles taken ; it may suffice to 
know that we partook of a sumptuous re- 
past when we had taken the town. 1 must 
not omit to mention the capture of forty 
horses. 

The rebels were panic-stricken, and en- 
tirely taken by surprise, for a regiment of 
infantry and six hundred cavalry left the 
town as soon as our advance-guard entered 
it, firing a few rounds of cartridges at our 
men, but with little effect. They then re- 
treated to Fredericksburg, which is about 
seven miles from Stafibrd Court House. The 
force in Fredericksburg, at that time, was 
said to be ten thousand ; and if we had pro- 
ceeded thither, we might have captured it 
also, for the rebels, as we afterwards learned, 
thought the Army of the Potomac was ad- 
vancing by that route towards Eichmond. 
It was rumored that they fled from Fred- 
ericksburg also, but returned when the 
news reached them that our force was infe- 
rior to theirs. Tlie fences on both sides of 
the road were covered with cowhides, plain- 



12 EEMINISCENCES. 

Ij showing, that sccesli were great lovera 
of the flesh of that useful aiiimaL It would 
be unnecessary to relate all the incidents 
connected with the expedition, since they 
bear no relation to the account of Williams- 
burg ; but I shall proceed to relate part of 
the voyage from Liverpool Point to where 
we landed, which was Ship Point, Yirginia. 
We sailed down by Mathias Point, a place 
of some importance in the history of this 
present war, for it was there our regiment 
first learned the art of w^ar. There the 
regiment first unfolded its Starry Banner on 
Virginia's sacred soil. There are not many 
places worthy of note till we come to Fort- 
ress Monroe. When we arrived there, we 
cast anchor, and remained for about three 
liours, and saw the Monitor, or Yankee 
Cheesebox, as it is called. But what is that 
hu2:e monster in tlie distance? It is the 
Merrimac, which has come out wdth foui 
other iron clad vessels. Now there is a 
large fleet in port, mostly composed of 
wooden vessels, and the iron clads w^oukl 
no doubt, destroy them, if tlie Merrimac 



EEMINISCEXCES. 13 

could only force the Monitor to give battle,, 
and from nnder the guns of the fort. Lieu- 
tenant Worden, then acting master of the 
Monitor, calls all hands to their posts. Xow 
the steam-pipe is lowered, the deck is 
greased, the guns are manned, and all are 
ready for action. Tlie Cheesebox, being 
thus ready, got up steam and went down to 
meet the monster and protect the shipping, 
l)ut not before the Merrimac had taken two 
of our schooners and towed them off to I^or- 
Iblk, " a nice prize for secesh." 

We started from the fort at 2 p.m., having 
received orders to go to Ship Point. The 
latter place was formerly occupied by the 
rebels, but when we landed, the brave 
Sixty-ninth was there, together with other 
regiments. We staid at this place for one 
night, and next morning moved three miles 
further up, encamped five days, and left on 
the 18th for Yorktown, where w^e arrived 
the same day, and encamped on the ground 
where General Washington planned the 
siege of that ancient town during the Kevo- 
lution. It was this town that Cornwallis 



14: REMINISCENCES. 

surrendered to our noble Father and Pa- 
triot, Washington ! It is a place full of 
interest to every American. We were then 
in sight of the enemy's works, and occa- 
sionally we would hear a shell whizzing 
over our heads, an iron messenger fi-om the 
enemy. There was a continued fire kept up 
from both sides, the enemy's pickets and 
ours being in close proximity and exchang- 
ing shots. Night after night w^e were called 
out of our beds to throw up intrenchments, 
as we could not work much in the day time 
for fear of being seen by the rebels from 
their batteries. 

"We had a large balloon in camp, and 
every day, General McClelhan, with Pro- 
fessor Lowe, made an ascension to reconnoi- 
tre the enemy's works. The rebels, at tltis 
time, made several attempts to strike the 
old Saw Mill. This mill formerly belonged 
to them, but fell into our hands after they 
were driven inside tlie fortifications of York- 
town. We put it to good use in sawing up 
planks to build batteries. 

Look around, and you see the direful 



EEMINISCENCES. 15 

effects tliis war lias produced ; devastation 
on every side ; houses deserted by their 
occupants and in ruins, although the apj^le 
and peach trees are in full bloom, producing 
a striking contrast with the scenes around. 
Still, I^ature spreads its halo of brightness 
ai'ound that memorable spot. On the morn- 
ing of the 1st of May, while our regiment 
was doing picket duty, the rebels fired shot 
and shell into our midst so thickly that we 
thought there was going to be a general 
onset. ^We had to lie down all night for 
fear the rebels would find out our lurking 
places ; but their pickets kept just as much 
concealed as ours. 

About three o'clock in the morning, they 
opened fire into the woods where we were 
concealed, thinking they would find out 
our position. They were not unsuccessful, 
for another regiment, on the right of ours, 
returned the fire, thereby disclosing our 
place of ambush. When the rebels saw 
the fire of our men, they immediately opened 
a terrific fire on us from their batteries, with 
little loss save among the trees. The firing 



16 REMINISCENCES. 

was kept up nearly the whole day, but with 
no injury to us. 

Yorktown is a place of great strength, 
and the rebels are of the opinion that if it 
had not been for our gunboats they would 
never have evacuated it. 

Truly yours. 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEGH. 



"' The Battle of Willi amsbiirgli, whicli oc- 
curred on Monday, the fiftli of May, 1S62, 
was one of the most sanguinary engage- 
ments of the war. On the morning of the 
fourth, the rebels opened a terrific cannon- 
ade from their batteries, when they re- 
treated nnder cover of them from Yorktown 
to Williamsburgh. 

The silence which had so long reigned 
throughout the camps, at once broke out into 
mirth and revelry, and all were anxious to 
get a proper view of that almost impregna- 
ble defense ; many had left their camps to 
behold the long expected prize. 

Drums beat their old familiar tunes, bands 
played, trumpets sounded, all was bustle 
and excitement. Cavalry and infantry were 
drawn up in line of battle in front of York- 
town, their bayonets and sabres glistening 
in the sun. The gunboats in front of the 
v.beleagured city weighed anchor, all, and 
2^ 



18 THE BATTLE OF WILLI AMSBUEGH 

everything seemed to be in motion, render- 
ing, to tliose who behehi it, a most magnifi- 
cent scene. That morning the Star Span- 
gled Banner waved in defiance over the 
stronghold of the enemy, amid loud and 
enthusiastic cheers from the men that were 
drawn np in line of battle. In about two 
hours afterwards, an order came from head- 
quarters to march and pursue the retreating 
rebels. We struck tents, packed knapsacks, 
and. started in pursuit over a rough and dan- 
gerous road to Williamsburgh. I say rough, 
because of the terpedos which were placed 
in the road to obstruct our maroh. On we 
went, however, taking care that we did not 
step on tliose instruments of death, which 
rebel hands had placed in the road. 

We marched twelve miles that day, and 
when night overtook us, we found that our 
regiment (the Seventy-fourth) had marched 
three miles ont of its right course, and, as 
soon as our colonel found that we were on 
the wrong road, he gave the command, 
" night about." Tui-ning, we marched on 
in another direction during a heavy raiii 



THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBUKGH. 19 

storm. When we had proceeded about two 
miles, we entered the woods. It was about 
midnight, and a portion of the regiment 
threw themselves into the arms of Morpheus, 
while others built fires to warm themselves 
and dry their w^et clothing. 

The troops were stationed that night in 
the following order: General Hooker's di- 
vision in front of the enemy's centre, near 
Williamsburgh ; Gen. Smith's division and 
General Stoneman, with the advance Cav- 
alry and Artillery, on the right wing ; the 
divisions of Generals Kearney and Couch 
had halted in the rear, while other divisions 
occupied the positions assigned them by the 
general commanding. It was a fearful night, 
and our position a strange and eventful one. 
The roads were in a dreadful muddy condi- 
tion. The troops had had a difficult march, 
and there, at night, without shelter from the 
rain, wdiich was falling fast, without food or 
nourishment, they all, officers and men, re- 
posed as best they could on the wet ground 
and among the forest trees. On the morn- 
ing of the fifth, the march was resumed, and 



20 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUROH. 

bj six o'clock, General Grover's brigade, 
Tvhicli led the advance of General Hooker's 
division, arrived witliin sight of the enemy's 
works. Fort Magruder, a very strong posi- 
tion, and in front of which timber was felled, 
as well to obstruct our march as to give free 
range to the rebel artillery. The open 
space in front of the fort was filled with 
rifle pits ; yonder, in the distance, is the an- 
cient and beautiful town of Williamsburgh, 
where, among other objects of interest, is 
situated the well-known college of William 
and Mary, which Yirginians regard with so 
much love and veneration. 

Tlie principal road runs through the town, 
and it was over this that the whole rebel 
army was retreating. The enemy's rear- 
guard had evidently determined to make a 
temporary stand at Williamsburgh, in order 
to successfully cover the retreat of their re- 
tiring columns and save the baggage of his 
ar.my. On the other hand, we were deter- 
mined to press their rear so as to render 
their flight both difficult and dangerous. 

In accordance with instructions from the 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUKGH. 21 

commander of the corps, General Hooker's 
division first engaged the enemy. At half 
past seven o'clock in the morning, General 
Grover's brigade opened the attack. A por- 
tion of the First Massachusetts regiment, 
under Lieutenant-Colonel AVells, were de- 
ployed as skirmishers to the front and left 
of the IIam]3ton road, the remainder of the 
regiment being held in reserve under Colonel 
Cowden. Two companies of the Second 
^ew Ilampsliire, under Colonel Marston, 
w^ere ordered to clear the edge of the tim- 
ber, with instructions to pick otf the enemy's 
sharpshooters and artillerists, while the other 
companies remained in the rear. Subse- 
quently, the Eleventh Massachusetts, Col. 
Blaisdell, and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, 
Col. Small, were placed in the same man- 
ner on the right of the Second New Hamp- 
shire, which was deplo3"ed as skirmishers. 
Early in the morning, Col. Small w^as 
wounded in the leg. Capt. Weber's bat- 
tery of artillery was sent in advance of the 
fallen timber, and about seven or eight hun- 
dred yards from Fort Magruder. At this 



22 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEGH. 

moment, a terrific fire was opened from four 
guns in the fort and two in one of the re- 
doubts to the left, and before our battery 
had been placed in position, several of onr 
men, including two officers, had been strick- 
en to the ground by the fire of the enemy. 
The drivers of the limbers could not stand 
the fire, and retired to the rear. Major 
Wainright, commanding the artillery in the 
division, immediately galloped to the rear, 
and called for volunteers from Capt. Os- 
borne's First l^ew York battery, while, in 
the meantime, Capt. "Weber succeeded in 
rallying quite a number of his own men. 
"With great alacrity the volunteers from the 
otlier batteries came forward. Thus, the 
four guns of battery II were manned and 
speedily in action, replying to the enemy's 
artillery. Half an hour afterwards, Capt. 
Bramhall, of the Sixth 'New York battery, 
came up, and five of his g"un»s were placed 
on the right of those of Capt. Weber's. 
Both, batteries now poured a most destruc- 
tive fire into the enemy's position, while 
our infantry did the same, and before nine 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSEUEGIT. 23 

o'clock in the morning, the troops in front 
were dispersed, and the guns in the fort 
silenced until late in the afternoon. These 
batteries were well supported by the Fifth 
InTcw Jersey regiment. Col. Starr. 

Gen. Ileintzelman, who was on the field 
in person and to the rear, had sent Gen. 
Emory forward with a small command, 
which was afterwards increased to four 
regiments of infantry, with Benson's Second 
artillery, and two batteries from Gen. Kear- 
ney's division, all accompanied by Col. 
Averill's Third Pennsylvania Cavalry. — 
When Gen. Emory reached the front with 
the cavalry, he learned from Gen. Hooker, 
who had immediate command, that the lim- 
ited length of the line in that locality did 
not admit of an opportunity to bring his 
arm of the service into action at that time. 
Geii. Emory, however, was sent with some 
of the force along the road to the left and 
rear, to observe the movements of the ene- 
my, which the woods concealed. Gen. Em- 
ory's command had a little skirmishing 
among the fallen timber to the left and near 



24 THE BATTLE OF WILLTAIMSEURGH. 

an opening witliin view of one of the re- 
doubts. 

A. squadron of cavalry took possession of 
the work, which was jj'^^i'tlj deserted, and 
captured forty prisoners. 

Quite early in the morning, it was no- 
ticed that the enemy was endeavoring to 
turn our flaidv to the left, for heavy firing 
was heard in that direction. The remain- 
ing companies of the First Massachusetts 
regiment were then deployed, and the 
Eleventh Massachusetts and Twenty-sixth 
I^ennsylvania regiments, under Gen.Grover, 
were ordered through the w^oods to outma- 
nceuvre the tactics of the enemy. The 
Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, whose colonel 
was wounded, did not receive the order, and 
remained on the right with little loss. 

"While the Eleventh Massachusetts was 
engaged, not more than fifty yards from the 
enemy, a rebel officer displayed a white 
flag and shouted : " Don't fire on your 
friends !" Col. Blaisdell immediately or- 
dered his regiment to cease firing, and when 
private Doherty advanced to take the flag, 



THE BATTLE OF WILLI AMSBUEGH. 25 



the rebel officer said to liis men, "Xow, 
bovs, a'ive it to them." The command was 
obeyed, and we lost a number of men in 

onsequence. Doherty was the first victim 
i'l this treachery ; but ere he fell, he dis- 
•harged his riile at the officer, who received 

otributive justice in the form of a bullet 
through the head. When the ammunition 
of the First Massachusetts regiment, which 
fought so bravely, had given out, the regi- 
ment was relieved by the Seventy-second 
IS^ew York, Lieut.-Col. Moses, which was in 
time replaced by the Seventieth 'Now York, 
Col. D wight, both of the Excelsior Brigade. 
In obedience to an order, Lieut.-Col. 
Moses pushed his regiment in front for the 
purpose of silencing a battery which was 
annoying us on the left. It was only when 
confronted with a most murderous fire, and 
bearing in mind the liability of having his 
command cut off from su2:)port unless Gen. 
Patterson, already engaged with the enemy, 

hould immediately succeed in dislodging 

liim in front, that he was prudently ordered 

to retire to his original position, where he 

3 



26 THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBUllGH. 

was tlieii relieved by tlie Sevetieiitli regi- 
ment 'New York Yolimteers, Col. D wight. 
Tlie lirst rebel reoimeiit which confronted 
this, mistook it for one of its own side, and 
the commanding officer, dictated by his 
mistrust, demanded of Col. D wight to show 
his colors. At the same time, the rebel 
flag was displayed by tlie rebel color-bearer, 
then our standard was raised and the Star 
Spangled Banner waved in defiance of that 
of the enemy. No sooner had the good old 
flag been displayed, than a volley was dis- 
charged at our men, but passed over our 
heads. The fire was returned with good 
effect. The rebel regiment was soon sup- 
ported by another, and both were engaged 
by onrs of the First Excelsior. Col. Dwight 
at this time received a slight wound in the 
leg, and Lieut.-Col. Farnum, being severely 
wounded, was carried to the rear. StiL 
the regiment fought with determined brave- 
ry against superior numbers, and as we 
were gaining the advantage, CoL Dv/ighfe 
ordered his regiment to charge through the 
fallen timber. The men, with cheers, ad- 



THE Bi^TTLE OF WILLIAMSCrRGH. 27 

vanced upon the rebels, who were put to 
flight, and thus, the flag which the rebels 
had demanded to be shown, proved to be 
triumphant. The soldiers in this regiment 
held their position as long as any ammuni- 
tion in their cartridge boxes held out, and 
then, as our supply train, l)y reason of the 
muddy condition of the roads, had not yet 
come up, they still presented an obstinate 
front, and held their ground as long as car- 
tridges could be found in the boxes of their 
dead and wounded comrades around them. 
Reinforcements still confronted us, and the 
favorite project of the enemy to outflank us 
was still continued. Thus reinforced, they 
pressed vigorously to the front, and, while 
Col. D wight was still endeavoring to resist 
this additional onslaught, he received two 
dangerous wounds, and, with several of his 
men, was taken prisoner by the enemy. 
He was carried by his captured men to 
Williamsburgh, where, when the rebels had 
evacuated, he was found by Gen. Jameson. 
Out of thirty -three commissioned ofticers 
in this regiment who went into action, 



28 THE BA'ITLE OF WILLIAMSEURGIT. 

tweiitj-two were eitlier killed or wounded. 
Both the Seventieth and Seventy-second 
regiments displayed the most valorous con- 
duct on this occasion. 

The engagement had now assumed exten- 
sive proportions, the infantry and artillery 
keeping up a continuous and destructive 
fire. ' All of Gen. Patterson's 'New Jersey 
Brigade, except the eighth regiment, had 
previously arrived on the ground. The 
two regiments, the Sixth, Lient.-Col. Yan 
Lear, and the Seventh, Col. Carman, were 
conducted by Gen. Patterson through the 
forest, to assist in repelling another attempt 
to turn our left flank. They occupied the 
lieavy timber which intercepted our view of 
the enemy's works. When they advanced, 
they Avcre also met by fresh regiments, and 
for a tunc, the advantage alternated between 
the contending forces, and the tide of battle 
was seen to ebb and flow on eitlier side, 
seer.iing uncertain as to the issue. As well 
as the forces of the enemy, our regiments 
which, while firing, were lying down, but 
still sufi:ered severely, until, at an opportune 



THE BATTLE OF WILLI AMSBUEGn. 29 

moment, Col. Johnson came np with the 
Sixth i^ew Jersey in time to check the 
flanking fire of the enemy, which was rapid- 
ly running round to the left. Heavy firing 
s«on broke out on the right of this com- 
mand, and was also handsomely repulsed. 
Again, the orders of rebel oflicers, in tlie 
woods, to the front and rear, proved that the 
attempt which had previously been unsuc- 
cessfully made to turn our left, was resumed, 
and this time, as before, after a protracted 
struggle, they were again foiled in their 
attempts. 

From the first, it seemed a subject of 
solicitude to have Gen. Heintzelman's com- 
mand join that of Gen. Sumner, in line of 
battle on the Yorktown road, to the right. 
Tliis, having been effected, Gen. Hooker, at 
about half-past eleven o'clock, despatched 
to Gen. Heintzelman's assistant-adjutant 
general a note, in which he said : " I have 
had a hard contest all the morning, but do 
not despair of success. My men are all at 
work, but are very much exhausted. It is 
reported to me that my communication with 



30 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBTJROH. 

yoii, by the Yoi'ktown road, is clear of the 
eiiem}^ Batteries, cavalrj and infantry can 
take part by the side of mine and whip tlic 
enemy." This was sent to a point on the 
Yorktown road, nnder the impression that 
Gen. Ileintzehnan, who had command of the 
corps, was still there, whereas, that gallant 
and intrepid soldier was near the Hampton 
road, where the fighting was severest, clieer- 
ing the long expected and welcomed rein- 
forcements. This note, therefore, was not 
received by Gen. Ileintzehnan, but was re- 
tnrned to Gen. Hooker, and on the enve- 
lop indorsed, '^ Opened and read by the 
senior officer on that field," who was Gen. 
Sumner. 

It would seem this timely note of Gen. 
Hooker's had the eifect of infusing renewed 
energy into our commanders on the right, 
for about noon, Gen. Peck received orders 
to proceed to the front in support of Gen. 
Hooker. Gen. Peck urged on his command, 
which went through the deep mud and 
drenching rain with commendable alacrity. 
He was met by Gen. Keyes, commander of 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGir. ^1 

the fourth corps, who gave him some in- 
structions, and accompanied on the field by 
Gen. Conch, who advised the disposition of 
his troops. IvTotwithstandi ng the fearful 
condition of the roads, two batteries — Capt. 
Flood's and McCarthy's Pennsylvania artil- 
lery — came np to assist Gen. Peck's bri- 
gade, and later in the day, the troops were 
placed within supporting distance. 

At an earlier hour. Gen. Hancock's bri- 
gade liad been ordered still further to the 
right, abont a mile and a half from the 
Yorktown road, for the purpose of silencing 
and taking possession of a battery which 
commanded a dam across a tributary to 
Queen's Creek, and which had been de- 
serted by tlie enemy early in the morning, 
with further instructions to attempt to turn 
their left. Gen. Hancock, with the ]3rinci- 
pal portions of the Fifth Wisconsin regiment, 
Col. Cobb ; Sixth Maine, Col. Barnhen ; 
Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, Col. Irwin ; 
Seventh Maine, Col. Mason ; and the Thirty- 
third Xew York, Col. E. F. Taylor— in all, 
about two thousand -Q-yq lumdred men, and 



32 THE BATTLE OF WTLLIAMSEURGH. 

Bupported by Lieut. Cowan's and Capt. 
Wheeler's batteries of artillery, crossed the 
creek and took possession of the works, and 
also of another w^ork about twxlve yards in 
advance, toward Fort Magruder, both of 
which, for the time being, were deserted by 
the enemy. About this time, our whole 
line, from right to left, was engaged with 
the enemy, wdio was still bringing up rein- 
forcements, among which was Longstreet's 
division, considered one of the finest in the 
rebel service, and which was recalled by 
the commandiug general of the rebel forces, 
beyond Williamsburgh. Among these, w^ere 
the commands of the rebel Gens. Pryor, 
Goldson, Early and Pickett, which the 
prisoners we had taken said had the reputa- 
tion of being among the best troops in the 
rebel army. At this time, as I have said, 
between two and three o'clock in the after- 
noon, our whole line was determinedly re- 
sisting the obstinate efforts of the enemy to 
drive back and win the day. To the left, 
ISTew York regiments, commanded by Col. 
I^elson Taylor, were firing away with unre- 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEGir. 33 

mittlng energy. The Fourth Excelsior, Col. 
Brewster, and the Fiftli Excelsior, Col. Bnr- 
tis, had just proceeded to strengthen that 
part of the line which, throughout the day, 
the enemy continued to j^ress with a vigor 
which indicated that the turning of our left 
flank was the most important part of Gen. 
Johnson's plan. The first and third regi- 
ments on tlie left of the road, and the Fourtli 
and Fifth on the right, advanced and poured 
a most effective fire into the rebel regi- 
ments, which were pressing our position 
with great tenacity. At the same time the 
rebel artillery in Fort Magruder, and the 
redoubt to its right (our left), reoj)ened with 
shot and shell, which made terrible havoc 
among the forest trees, much more than 
among our men. The w^oods, in every 
direction, bear the marks not only of shot 
and shell from tlie artillery, but from the 
musketry fire on either side. Tree tops 
dropped o& as though they had been heads 
severed from human bodies by the keenest 
sword. The blood of our noble comrades 
who fell in the contest, covered the ground 



Si THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBURGH. 

in places, and mingled witli tlie rain. 
The dead lay in every direction, and the 
wounded formed a long, mournful proces- 
sion, as they were being carried to the rear. 
Many, however, were not found when nigl.t 
closed upon the scene, and were necessarily 
left on the field till the morning. My heart 
was moved with pity to hear the groans of 
the dying and wounded, as they lay around, 
who were calling for their mothers-but no 
mother was there to aid or comfort them. 
Alas ! some had no mother, for, if they had, 
she could not appeal to the words her brave 
son had uttered, " Mother, I'm dying ! Oh ! 
mother, Fm dying !" Yes, it was her pal- 
j)itating heart that first nerved his strong 
arm. For her protection and his country's 
honor he first buckled the soldier's armor 
on, and now dreams of home, sweet home, 
and the loved ones left behind, steal upon 
Lis fevered brain, and he again mingles 
with family and friends, again listens to her 
footsteps, and the artless prattle of younger 
brothers and sisters ; and now, while ]iis 
life fiows out, and the mists of death gather 



THE BATTLE OF WIIJJAMSBtJROK. 35 

round him, the name of mother leaps to his 
lips, and her form appears before him, from 
the home to which he bids farewell for- 
ever. 

Remember the glories of patriots brave, 
Though the days of the heroes are o'er ; 

Long lost to their country and cold in the grave, 
They return to their kindred no more. 

The stars of the field which in victory poured 
Their beams on th(; battle-field set ; 

But enough of their glory remains on each sword 
To light us to victory yet. 

The felled trees presented great obstacles 
to the advance of our men, and many were 
shot in climbing over them. It was now 
that Lieut.-Col. Benedict, of the Fourth Ex- 
celsior regiment, who was always in the 
advance, was taken prisoner. The troops, 
in the Excelsior Brigade, fought in the most 
gallant and intrepid manner, and when their 
ammunition was expended, fell slowly back 
behind our batteries, which continued firing 
to keep the rebels in check until fresh sup- 
plies of ammunition were received. Our 
regiments advanced again, and kept up the 



30 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUKGH. 

contest until relieved bj reinforcements 
later in the afternoon. 

Another instance of rebel treachery oc- 
cnrred in front of the Second Xew Hamp- 
shire regiment, similar to that in front of 
the Eleventh Massachnsetts. Capt. Dronne's 
company encoimtered a body of tlio enemy, 
when the rebel commander cried ont, " Don't 
lire, don't lire, we are friends !'' at the same 
time directing his men to trail arms. Capt. 
Dronne ordered his company not to fire, and 
having thus obtained a good show at them, 
the rebels fired a volley, killing Capt. 
Dronne and many of his men. The support 
to our artillery was withdrawn and sent to 
a more important point, Gen. Hooker deem- 
ing it better to run the risjk of losing a few 
j)ieces of artillery, than of losing the day. 
This was just previous to the time that our 
reinforcements were coming up close in the 
rear. Those reinforcemeiits consisted of 
Gen. Kearney's division. When the divi- 
sion was still far in the rear, hearing the 
firing in front, and having received orders 
to come forward with all possible haste, the 



THE BATl'LE OF WILLIAMSBURG H. 37 

several brigades pushed on tlirough the 
iiiiid, past other trooj)S and trains. Gen., 
lieintzehnan, who was vio^oronslv watchinir 
the progress of the battle, and weighing the 
chances for victory or defeat, had sent other 
orders to hasten on the coming division of 
his corps. At this point, Gen. Berrj pushed 
on his brigade, and sent to the rear requests 
for the speedy advance of Capt. Thompson's, 
battery of artillery. 

The brigade and artillery soon arrived 
near the held of action. Gen. Kearney,, 
with Gen. Jameson, had ridden to the front, 
and both, assisted by their staff officers, 
urged their personal influence to good ad- 
vantage in encouraging the weary soldiers 
on to the scene of action. 

As the troops passed where Gen. Ileint- 
zelman was, he waved his hat, and they 
greeted him with the most enthusiastic 
cheers. The arrival of this brigade, at that 
moment, was most opportune, for it was a 
very critical period of the battle. The 
enemy, seeing the supports withdrawn from 
our artillery, made a determined attempt to- 
4 



38 THE BATTLE OF AVILLIAMSBUKGH. 

capture it, and indeed nearly all the liorses 
having been killed, and the pieces deeply 
embedded in mud, some of the guns had 
already fallen into their hands. They were 
pushing this part of the line, and had suc- 
ceeded in entering the woods near the 
Hampton road, which Gen. Hooker's divi- 
sion had held all the day. Gen. Ileintzel- 
raan himself was nearly surrounded ; but 
that noble soldier chose rather to be killed 
or captured, sooner than leave a position 
where, at that critical juncture, he could by 
liis presence inspire confidence in his troops. 
Had he left, the result might have been dis- 
astrous. Just at that moment, however, 
Gen. Berry's brigade arrived, and then the 
tide of battle was destined to turn com- 
pletely in our favor. 

When Gen. Kearney's troops were being 
brought into action, they met the length- 
ened files of Gen. Hooker's wounded being 
carried to the rear. The slirieks of the 
lacerated and bleeding soldiers, who had 
been fighting so long and so well, pierced 
the air, and this, ^vith the mud and rain and 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBTTRGH. 39 

tlie exhausted condition of tliose who had 
come several miles with so much speed, was 
not calculated to produce a favorable im- 
pression on them as thej were rushing into 
battle. Gen. Heintzelman, however, or- 
dered several of the bands to strike up 
national and martial airs, and when the 
strains of the familiar tunes reached the 
ears of the wounded, as they were being 
carried from the field, their cheers mingled 
with those of the soldiers who were just 
rushing into action. The effect, too, was 
great on the other side, for some of the 
prisoners stated that when they heard the 
bands strike up Hail Columbia, and heard 
our soldiers cheer, they knew that the vic- 
tory would be ours. 

The bands did play so merrily 

Our own sweet martial airs ; 
And when "Hail Columbia " was heard, 

We soon forgot our cares. 

Gen. Kearney quickly conferred with 
Gen. Heintzelman, from whom he received 
his orders, and with Gen. Hooker, who 
pointed out the position of affairs, and made 



40 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSEURGH. 

some suggestions as to tlie disposition of his 
forces. Having observed tiie point of attack, 
Gen. Kearney immediately threw his troops 
into action. The Third Michigan regiment, 
CoL Champlin, having been previously at- 
tacked and sent with Gen. Emory, Gen. 
Berry went on the field with three other 
regiments. The Fifrh Michigan regiment, 
Col. Terry, was filed off to the left of the 
road into the timber, and was supported by 
the Thirty-seventh Inxw York, Col. Hay- 
man. Part of the Second Michigan, Col. 
Poe, was placed on either side of the road. 
Then a charge was ordered on the left, and 
the Fiitli Michigan and Thirty-seventh IS'ew 
York advanced in splendid style, driving 
the enemy before them away from the fallen 
timber, and out of the rifle-pits beyond. 
Nearly all tlie field officers of the Fifth 
IMichigan were wounded in the charge. 
CoL Berry was slightly wounded, but he 
still bravely urged on his command. Lieut.- 
C^ol. Beach, who had won honors on the 
field in Mexico, sustained his ciiaracter of a 
galhint officer, and was wounded in the 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG H. 41 

tliigli. Tlie fire of our artillery, and of our 
Western troops, was accurate. In one of 
the rifle-pits, sixty-three dead rebels were 
counted, most of them shot through the 
head. The dead and dvinG: were Ivinc: all 

I/O «/ ~ 

around. The Fifth Michigan regiment held 
possession of this rifle-pit, and turned to 
good account the advanced position it had 
gained. Capt. Smith, Gen. Berry's Assist- 
ant-Adjutant-General, displayed great gal- 
lantry under heavy firing, and led the wing 
of the Fiftli Michigan in the charge. Still 
the enemy was pressing forward on the 
centre, where our almost abandoned battery 
was fast in the mud. In the meantime, 
Capt. Smith had placed his battery in 
echelon on a knoll to the right of the road, 
and when the rebels came down from Fort 
Magruder to take his comrades' cannon, he 
met them with a raking fire, which pre- 
vented their capture. At the same time. 
Gen. Kearney (since killed at Chantilly), 
perceiving this movement of the enemy, 
ordered two companies of the Second Michi- 
gan to charge on the rebels, who were now 
6* 



42 THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBUKGH. 

crowding on our pieces. This charge was 
conducted in the mo-st gallant manner, and 
the enemy was once more driven Lack oA'ei* 
the felled timber. The Third and Fourth 
Maine regiments, having been detached from 
Gen. Birney's Brigade and temporarily as- 
signed to Gen. Emory's, Gen. Birney came 
forward with the two remaining regiments, 
the Thirty-eighth I^ew York, Cob J. H. 
Ilobart AYard, and the Fortieth IN'ew York, 
Col. Eiley. These were deployed to tlie 
right of the Hampton road, and, like those 
under Gen. Berry, on the left, relieved frag- 
ments of regiments which had borne tlie 
brunt of the battle ever since the commence- 
ment in the morning. All this time the 
rebel artiUery Avas sending a rapid fire into 
our ranks. The thirty-eighth iSTew York 
regiment v/as ordered to charge down the 
road, and take the riile pits in front by the 
flank. Col. Ward, in the; most martial man- 
ner, led seven companies of his regiment in 
the most brilliant and successful charge 
the other three companies, under Lieut. Col. 
Strong;, were duini;' efficient service in an 



THE BATFLE OL' WILLI AMSUUKGH. 43 

adjacent i^art of the Held. The charge of 
Cul. Ward's regiment was a splendid iiiove- 
ment ; they rushed forward, putting the 
enemy to flight again across the fallen tim- 
ber. The personal conduct of Coh Ward, 
wdiose martial bearing on the field was re- 
marked by all who saw him, could have bad 
no otlier effect than to infuse military ardor 
into all the soldiers near him. General 
Kearney, who was in one of the most ex- 
posed positions in the front, and who spoke 
and moved with great rapidity, observing 
the advantage to be gained at this import- 
ant moment, immediately ordered the left 
wing of the Fortieth Kew York, Col. Riley, 
to follow the Thirty-eighth in the charge over 
the open space, and dash into the enemy's 
rear. The Col. being valiantly engaged in 
front with the right wing of his regiment, 
this cliarge of the left wing was led in the 
most intrepid manner by Capt. Mindle^ 
chief of Gen. Birney's staff. 

The enemy was successfully driven back, 
their artillery silenced, and the contest vir- 
tually closed in that portion of the field. 



4-1 THE BAITLE OF WILLIA^ISBUKGn. 

In the nieantime, tiie operations had ex- 
tended farther to the riglit. Gen. Peck's 
coiinnand, of Vv-hich mention has been pre- 
viously made, -was brought into action hite 
in the afternoon, and near the point Avliere 
the YorktoAvn road opened upon tlie space 
in front. The One Hundred and Second 
Pennsylvania regiment, Col. Polly, was de- 
ployed to the right of the road, and the 
Fifty-fifth Is ew York, Col. de Trobriand, to 
the left. This was the time of the general 
movement along the whole line; and when 
the enemy v»'as attempting to carry off Capt. 
Weber's guns, the Fifty-fifth was dispatched 
to the left, with instructions to prevent that 
movement, but reached the spot too late to 
accomplish the intended object. However, 
those regiments, and the Sixty-second Penn., 
Col. Piker, engaged the enemy till their 
annnunition was expended. The Ninety- 
tliird Pennsylvania, Col. McCarty, was 
thrown in front, and contested the ground 
■Sv^ith the rebels until they appeared in larger 
force to the right again, in front of Col. 
Kelly's regiment. It was now quite doubt- 



THE BATTLE OF WILLI AMSBURGH. 4i> 

ful whetlier Gen. Peck could hold his posi- 
tion there. The JSTinety-eighth Pennsyl- 
vania, Col. Balliere, was ordered forward; 
but some of the companies manifested symp- 
toms of disorder, — while the rebels were 
gaining ground — but was placed in position 
notwithstanding, and before night closed 
upon the conflict, the brigade had partially 
succeeded in driving back the enemy. The 
supply of ammunition in the cartridge 
boxes having been expended, the brigade 
was relieved by other troops, which were 
placed under command of Gen. Devin, on 
the right, and Gen. Keim, on the left. Gen. 
Keim, of Pennsylvania, of Gen. Casey's divi- 
sion, was engaged actively in the battle, 
rising from a sick couch to take part there- 
in. He was complimented by Gen. McClel- 
lan for the services he rendered in rescuing 
Gen. Peck's brigade when in great danger. 
Gen. Keim's death was caused by the ex- 
posure he suffered at this battle. 

The battle had now raged from early 
morn till near night. By the superior in- 
trepidity of our troops, the vigorous attacks 



40 THE BATTLE OF WILLlAMSBURftH. 

of the enemy had been repulsed, and the 
last grand advance along the line had been 
handsomely repelled by Gen. Kearney's 
troops. The enemy tried to turn our left, 
but had failed, and the subsequent advances 
gradually extended from left to right. The 
rain was still descending, as it had been all 
day. Gen. Ilancock's brigade, previously 
placed on our right, remained in the position 
it took up when it crossed the dam, and oc- 
cupied some of the evacuated earthworks 
earlier in the afternoon. Exj^ected rein- 
forcements not coming up in time, it was 
deemed more proper that the brigade should 
fall back from the advanced position it had 
gained, to the one occuj^ied at first, imme- 
diately after crossing the dam. Being occa- 
sionally engaged with the enemy, however, 
in order to avoid the bad effect which a 
retrograde movement might cause, it held 
the position, keeping skirmishers deployed 
in front. The fire near Fort Magruder, to 
the left, had now almost subsided, and rebel 
troops were observed moving in different 
directions. A force of the enemy's infantry 



THE BAITLE OF WILLI AMSBLTlGn. 47 

filled a work which had remained unoc- 
cupied, and a body of their cavalry assem- 
bled on the plateau, apparently with a view 
of charging on the battery. A vigorous 
attack on the right made Gen. Hancock 
apprehensive that his position might be 
turned, and be cut off from an opportunity 
of retreating, if he should find it necessary, 
across the dam. His brigade fell back in 
line of battle, followed by the rebels firing 
and cheering as they came; our artillery 
was also brought back, piece by piece, the 
last gun firing a few rounds of canister at 
the advancing enemy. As soon as the ar- 
tillery was safe, the Fifth Wisconsin regi- 
ment, on the right, was ordered to retire in 
the same manner as the others, disputing 
the ground as it retreated. Another line 
was being formed on either side of the re- 
doubt by our retiring regiments. The 
enemy was pressing them so hard, that 
when the Fifth Wisconsin regiment had 
reached the second line, followed by the 
Fifth :N'orth Carolina, shouting, '' Bull Kun, 
Ball's Bluft'," it was immediately formed to 



4:S THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSLL'KGH. 

the right and left of the redoubt. The 
rebels were now within some forty yards, 
and Gen. Hancock ordered an immediate 
advance of his entire line. This, it will be 
remembered, was composed of the principal 
portions of the Fifth Wisconsin regiment, 
Sixth and Seventh Maine, Thirty-third New- 
York, and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania regi- 
ments, in all about two thousand five hun- 
dred men. These regiments went forward 
with alacrity, and as they came close to the 
enemy delivered a few volleys. Then Gen. 
Hancock gave the command, " Gentlemen, 
charge." And his gallant men, with tre- 
mendous cheers, dashed down the slope. 
The enthusiastic spirit of the men seemed to 
be sufficient to frighten the opposing force, 
which was said by prisoners to be Gen. 
Early's brigade, and, with the exception of 
three resolute rebels who stood to receive 
the bayonets, the line broke and the rebels 
ran. Pursuing them down tlie slope. Gen. 
Hancock's comniand halted, and iired ten or 
eleven volleys at tliem, and also at another 
rebel force wliicli was observed advancing 



THE BAITLE OF WILLIAMSBURaH. 49 

to support the first. When the smoke 
cleared up, the ground was thickly covered 
with dead and dying rebels. The loss of 
the enemy, at this time, was great. The 
Fifth North Carolina regiment was almost 
annihilated : the Twenty-fourth Virginia, 
and other regiments, lost many officers. 
Gen. Early was wounded, and several 
Colonels killed. 

The prisoners we captured said, that, be- 
fore they went into action, Gen. Hill made 
a brief address to the rebel troops, in which 
he told them that we had better arras ; that 
tlie conflict would be close ; that he knew 
they were equal to the task, and that they 
must walk in and give us the cold steel. 
Then Gen. Early asked them, if they were 
ready to take that battery ; and they re- 
plied that they would try it. They did try 
it ; but instead of giving us the cold steel, 
they themselves fled at the sight of it. Gen. 
McClellan arrived with heavy reinforce- 
ments at the scene of action on the right, 
■'iist about the time Gen. Hancock's com- 
laand made the final charge : he was loudly 
5 



50 THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBUEGH. 

clieered as lie passed, and his presence on 
the field created the most urshoundod en- 
thusiasm among his troops. 

Gen. Hancock's loss, in the operations of 
the day, including this charge, was nine 
killed, ninety-five wounded, and thirty 
missing. That was about the concluding 
act of the engagement, and when night 
closed npon the final scene, our troops, all 
along the line, soundly slept on the field 
they had so bravely won. 

This battle w^as a series of charges on 
either side, from the left to the right of the 
line, from the commencement of the action 
to its close ; but, as the ground was covered 
with felled timber, it w^as difficult to 
manoeuvre speedily in any place except on 
the right, where the advantage of position 
gave Gen. Hancock an excellent opportu- 
nity to charge. No battle was ever fought 
with greater determination on both sides. 
The repeated attempts to turn our left, were 
successfully repnlscd each time in the most 
gallant manner, and history does not fur- 
nish instances of greater individual valor 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGH. 51 

tlian was displayed on that memorable 
field. 

On tlie day subsequent to the battle, the 
dead were lying so thickly on the ground 
that, in some places, it was necessary either 
to pick your way or step on the body of 
some dead or womided soldier half-buried in 
the mud. Several rebel Indians were found 
dead on the field. Our loss was over two 
thousand in killed, wounded, and missing. 
It was impossible to tell precisely what loss 
the enemy had sustained, but from the num- 
ber of killed and wounded left behind, and 
other evidences, their loss was believed to 
be fully equal to ours. Gen. Heintzelman 
acted with a coolness and courage, when 
surrounded by danger, which attest his 
merits as an accomplished soldier. 

Gen. Hooker opened the attack, and held 
successfully the ground with his division, 
against overwhelming numbers, until the 
arrival of Gen. Kearney's troops late in the 
afternoon. He was in immediate command, 
^vliere the fighting was, during the greater 



52 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGH. 

portion of the day, and, with great energy 
an.d skill, fonght the rebel forces under Gen. 
eToseph E. Johnston, the ablest of all the 
rebel generals. 

It is an interesting incident that Gen. 
Hooker and Gen. Johnston, who confronted 
each otlier on that occasion, were old friends 
— fought side by side, for the American 
cause, in all the battles which took place in 
Mexico, and entered Chepultepec together. 
Gen. Hooker has shown himself not oiily a 
gentleman but an able officer also. 

Gen. Kearney's activity is surpassed only 
by his intrepidity. His conduct in the bat- 
tle was of an inspiring character, and was 
often in the most exposed positions ; once, 
with Gen. Jameson, down in front of Fort 
Magruder — it was somewhat surprising tluit 
lie escaped with his life. One of our officers 
met, in the hospital, a college companion, a 
Yirginian, who was on the rebel side, and 
wounded in the fight. He said that he and 
others had, several times, taken deliberate 
aim at that " man with the one arm'' — 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUKGH. 53 

meaning Gen. Kearney, avIio had lost his arm 
while leading a charge during the war with 
Mexico. 

But now he is gone, his battles are o'er ; 
Hi^ deeds wo remember, his loss we deplore ; 
He is gone to his home, his Captain to see, 
Where fighting's unknown, and all is victory. 

Other generals, who commanded brigades, 
conducted themselves with scarcely less 
bravery and valor. The Staff officers, in 
every instance, rendered valuable services 
to the cause on this occasion. All exhibited 
activity, and those who were under a heavy 
fire showed great gallantry. Gen. Kearney's 
Chief of Staff, Capt. James M. Wilson, was 
killed while putting in execution the desire 
for a general onset, falling within the ene- 
my's lines ; and Lieut. "William C. Bernard, 
one of his aids, late of West Point, lost his 
life towards the close of the engagement, hav- 
ing previously had a horse shot under him. 
With scarcely an exception, officers of the 
Field and Line behaved in the bravest man- 
ner, while among the file there were thou- 
sands of instances of individual prowess 



54 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEGH. 

wliich may never be widely known. All 
conducted themselves commendably, and 
tliongli they may not see their names in his- 
tory, yet will feel conscious that they have 
done their duty. 

The contest throughout was of the fiercest 
character : one or two examples will serve 
as illustrations. After the action, a friend 
and foe were found, each tightly clutching 
his rifle, each having the other's bayonet in 
his body, and both dead on the ground. 
One of our Lieutenants, w^ho was killed, had 
run his sw^ord through a rebel, and was 
cleaving the skull of another, when he was 
killed by a bullet from the enemy. The 
Thirty-eighth New York, and the Four- 
teenth Louisiana regiments, which first con- 
fronted each other at Bull Run, met again 
on this occasion. The one was opposed to 
the other in the fight. At the battle of 
Bull Run, some of the Thirty-eighth N"ew 
York were taken prisoners, and were guard- 
ed in prison, at Richmond, by the Four- 
teenth Louisiana. At tlie battle of Wil- 
liamsburgh, some of the Fourteenth were 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGII. 00 

taken prisoners by the Thirty-eighth. Tlie 
tables had now been completely turned, for 
familiar faces were recognized again, and it 
was found that some of our men wdio had 
been guarded by rebels, were now guarding 
rebels themselves. But it would be useless 
to prolong the narrative ; it will suffice for 
the end — that the battle of Willianisburgli 
w^as one of the most sanguinary engage- 
ments of the war. Gen. Hooker's loss was 
in the ratio of one iu six, which is a propor- 
tionate loss of that of the allied armies at 
the battle of Alma, in 1854-. ISTo other bat- 
tle, in the recent European wars, compares 
with it. The bloodiest battle in Xapoteon's 
career, if I mistake not, was that of Wag- 
ram, where the loss was one in eight. Our 
regiments, engaged at the battle of Williams- 
burgh, were small in numbers, for the rea- 
son that, when they were urged on, some 
were found physically unable to keep up on 
the double-quick, and therefore dropped out 
of the ranks exhausted before the regiments 
readied the field of action. The force op- 
posed to ours was said to be thirty thousand. 



56 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBTIRGH. 

We had prisoners taken in the fight, who 
represented forty different regiments. All 
the Union regiments, who participated in 
the battle, have " Williamsbnrgh" inscribed 
upon their banners. 

Dr. Franklin Kidgeway, Assistant Sur- 
geon of the Fourth Excelsior regiment, was 
on the field throughout the fight, attending 
to the wounded, besides having his horse 
shot under him, but remained on the field 
notwithstanding. He was riding near Gen. 
Hooker when the horse of the General was 
shot down, and was the first to assist him in 
rising. While dressing the shattered ancle 
of one of the men, a shell took the top of the 
man's head off. At one period of the action, 
the rebels made a desperate charge upon 
the battery on the right, and fearing its cap- 
ture. Dr. Ridgeway rode up to the battery, 
and, dismounting, continued to assist in 
working the guns until the rebels were 
driven off. He was highly complimented 
for the gallantry displayed by him on the 
field. 

The l^ational colors were first raised on 



TIIK BATTLE OF WTLLIAMSBURGTT. 57 

the walls of Yorktowii by the Standard- 
bearer of the Fourth regiment, in Trhich Dr. 
Ridgeway assisted. After the battle, our 
troops were disposed along the whole line, 
and pickets were placed in front. Scouts 
were sent out to observe the movements of 
the enemy. 

An hour or more after midnight, Sergeant 
Green, from the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, reported to Gen. Jameson, and 
he to Gen. Kearney, that the enemy was 
evacuating their position in front of the re- 
cent scene of action. He was sent out 
again, and in two hours returned with a 
corroboration of his previous statement. At 
dawn. Gen. Jameson, with two companies 
of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania 
regiment, was sent to reconnoitre, and, with 
a detachment of a dozen men under Lieut. 
Gilbert, entered Fort Magruder, which was 
found to be deserted. He was the first to 
take possession of the rebel fortifications at 
Yorktown, and also the first to enter the 
works at Williamsburgh. He then advanced 
with his whole line, supported by artillery. 



58 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUROH. 

Tlie rear- Canard of the enemy was iiist de- 
parting as he entered Willi amsbnrgh. The 
town itself was almost deserted. Deserters, 
stragglers, and sick and w^ounded rebels, 
to the number of nearly six hundred, were 
found in the streets and suburbs, in hospitals 
and private houses. Gen. Jameson was 
marching on with his brigade, when he was 
instructed, by the General commanding, to 
encamp just outside the town. If tins re- 
treat of the rebels had been followed up, 
w^e, probably, should not have been com- 
pelled to retreat from^ Malvern Hill to Har- 
rison's Landing. Gen. Jameson was made 
Military Governor of "VVilliamsburo^h. 

Thus, after a signal discomfiture, the 
enemy evacuated his strong position also,* 
and pushed his retreating columns along the 
picturesque Peninsula. 

I shall not attempt to give the names oi 
the killed and w^ounded at this battle, but 
will merely mention the number in each 
division engaged on the Union side. Gen. 
Hooker had four hundred and three killed, 
nine hundred and eighty-seven wounded, 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUIiGH. 59 

and l^lirec Imndred and seventeen missing ; 
making a total of one thousand seven Imn- 
dred and seven. Gen. Kearney's division 
had eighty-seven killed, three hundred and 
fourteen wounded, and seventeen missmg ; 
total, four hundred and eio-hteen. Gen. 
Couch's division lost nineteen killed, eighty- 
five wounded, and twenty-four missing ; 
total, one Imndred and twenty-eight. Gen. 
Hancock's brigade had nine killed, ninety- 
five wounded, and thirty missing ; total, 
one hundred and thirty four. J^Iaking in 
all, five Imndred and eighteen killed, one 
thousand four hundred and eighty-one 
wounded, and three hundred and eighty- 
eight missing : or, a grand total of two 
thousand three hundred and eighty-seven 
killed, wounded, and missing. 



APPENDIX. 



After the battle of William sburgh, it 
was deemed expedient to despatcli the 
wounded to the various hospitals, for which 
purpose thej were sent in ambulances to 
Queen's Creek, and from thence were sent 
by steamboat to Fort Monroe. 

While we were being placed on board, 
the cook in the kitchen was busy preparing 
some refreshments for the wounded passen- 
gers. Shortly the Captain came to me with 
a cup of coffee, which I partook of with 
great eagerness, after which I was removed 
to another part of the boat. In short, I was 
highly honored by the presence of Col. 
Small, who was placed by my side, and we 
immediately fell into conversation. The 
Colonel asked where I was wounded ; I 
told him, in the leg and arm. lie said that 
he was wounded in the leg, but it would 
6 



62 APPENDIX. 

not be very serious ; and also told me, that 
he had been wounded in the Mexican war. 
From Col. Small I gathered some informa- 
tion concerning the battle in which we had 
just been engaged. The Colonel is a very- 
compassionate man, and cares more for 
others than for himself. He gave me an 
opium pill, saying, that it would make me 
sleep, and thereby would case my pain ; 
and said that he always carried medicine 
with him in battle. 

The officers belonging to the boat seemed 
very much interested in Col. Small, and 
occasionally would bring him a cup of ruby 
wine, which he cherished as a dear friend. 
I expected every moment to become the 
recipient of a glass of the stimulating bever- 
age, but there were none who cared for the 
little corporal, save the Colonel ; and I 
thought if I only had shoulder straps, how 
I should then be looked upon as somebody. 
But it was too late ; I was about to become 
a cripple for life, and nmst say good bye to 
Buch marks of distinction. 

There are some who, when they leave the 



APPENDIX. 63 

service, boast tliat tliey never desired to 
wear the badge of a commissioned officer. 
Such men, I say, never had any merits of 
their own whereby they could become offi- 
cers ; and I knew an individual who, at a 
public meeting, in l^ew York, thanked Pro- 
vidence that he was only a private soldier. 
That man, from the account which he gave 
of himself, never bore a good reputation 
while in his regiment, nor had he any merits 
whereby he could obtain shoulder straps. 
But I am wandering from my intended 
subject. 

On the third day after the battle, I be- 
came an inmate of the hospital of Fort 
Monroe, and while there was very kindly 
cared for. My wounds were carefully 
dressed, my linen changed, and I was made 
the recipient of a very nice cup of tea and 
toast preparatory to going to bed. Of the 
latter, I had an excellent one ; and on either 
side was a secesh, both ISTorth Carolinians. 
These men were groaning nearly the whole 
time, and I was therefore obliged to pass 
several sleepless nights, by being thus sur- 



64: APPENDIX. 

roimcled by the enemies of my coimtry. 
One of these, who was on my right, had his 
leg amputated : the other, in justice to him, 
was a good looking fellow, and one whom 
any of our Yankee ladies might desire for a 
husband. He was w^ounded in the spine, 
and the doctors, in searching for the bullet, 
had made a terrible gash in the man's thigh, 
much larger than that inflicted by the bid- 
lets of Union soldiers. This rebel told me 
that he was about to be married, w^hen he 
w^as called upon to serve in the rebel army, 
and on which account he deferred the mar- 
riage nntil " this cruel w^ar would be over." 
Bidy alas ! the ill-fated missile had done its 
w^ork, the doctors had done theirs, and the 
poor youug man "shuffled off this mortal 
coil." 

1 was conversing wdth him one morning 
about his sweetheart, — for I ahvays took a 
partlcuhir interest in that subject — and, 
growing somew^hat tired of conversing, I fell 
asleep. I liad not, however, slept more than 
fifteen minutes, wdien 1 awoke, and behold ! 
my companion had fled ; the bright youth 



APPENDIX. 65 

took his departure for another world — the 
lover was no more ; his soul had taken its 
flight to the land of spirits. Death had laid 
his icy hand upon him, and grasped in its 
cold embrace his lifeless form. The othei 
still lingered, complaining now that his toes 
pained him, while those same toes were 
either buried in the cold earth, or pickled in 
the doctor's surgery. But, notwithstanding, 
his toes did pain him, for he felt them 
throusjh imasfination ; the nerves were still 
there, and, if I am not mistaken, he feels 
them still ; if so, I can sympathize with him, 
for I feel my fingers, though they are buried 
in the city of New York. 

May '^\8t. — I was put on . board the 
steamer Kenebec for ISTew York, where I 
arrived on the twenty-fourth. Happy was 
I and my mangled comrades when we 
learned that we were in sight of the Empire 
City, and thrice happy when we beheld a 
number of patriotic ladies and gentlemen 
enter the boat, with many delicacies for 
those wdio had fought and bled in their 
6* 



66 APPENDIX. 

country's defence, l^ever were viands more 
acceptable than on that occasion. 

On the morning of the 25th, the boat was 
cleared of the wounded passengers, they 
being sent to the different hospitals through- 
out the city, and glad was I to liave the 
good fortune to be accounted an inmate of 
the Ladies' Home, which is situated on the 
corner of Fifty-first street and Lexington 
Avenue. I say fortune, for in the above 
hospital I exchanged the rude treatment of 
iron-handed war for the many comforts 
which the Home then contained, together 
with the tender care which the ladies are 
ever ready to bestow. It was to me cni- 
phatically a home, a name to which I had 
long been a stranger ; when pain and sick- 
ness sent their quivers through my emaci- 
ated frame, the hand of the gentler sex was 
there to soothe my fevered brow — there to 
impart those sweet smiles and fond caresses 
which woman alone is capable of imparting. 
Dr. A. B. Mott, who has charge of the insti- 
tution, is an able and efficient surgeon. 



APPENDIX. 67 

The usual compliments, liowever, were 
extended me, such as I had met with in the 
former hospitals, namely, a collation of tea 
and toast. In the evening I was furnished 
with comfortable quarters, after a dreary 
passage on board the Kenebec, and I now 
felt secure from the evils which I had gone 
through during the passage. 

'Next morning I beheld a number of my 
comrades who belonged to the same com- 
pany, and who had arrived the day pre- 
vious. They were glad to see me, and were 
much surprised, when they found I was 
alive, for my name had been in the daily 
papers as among the killed. But no, I am 
still alive, and with my remaining hand, 
take pleasure in announcing that I am able 
to pen these lines. 

Here my wounds were carefully dressed, 
and I was as comfortable as I could desire. 
The worst, however, was yet to come. On 
the 20tli of June — nearly four weeks after 
my initiation to the hospital — my arm was 
amputated by Dr. Mott, in the presence of 
Drs. Crane, Peters, Kobie, and a number of 



68 APPENDIX. 

others. 1 was taken completely by surprise, 
until Dr. Mott said : " ISTow, Burns, I am 
going to do something for you." But I was 
well aware of what he w^as about to do, 
when I saw the chloroform in the hand of 
Dr. Robie, and by way of encouragement, 
Dr. Crane said to Dr. Peters, " We are going 
to reset the joint." The resection, however, 
proved to be an amputation. 

I made diligent inquiries of the officials 
before the arm was taken off, as to whether 
the doctors came to the conclusion to ampu- 
tate it, but could not gain any definite in- 
formation on that point. The questions, 
however, were in due time solved. 

I was taken out of the ward, where I had 
been since my initiation to tlie hospital, and 
carried up stairs by Drs. Eobie and "Walker, 
who I pitied, because of the burden they 
bore. They, however, said that I was no 
incumbrance, and I w\as taken to Ward 4, 
where I was placed close to the operating 
rjom. Here I awaited my turn on a water 
bed, which 1 did not like at first, but after- 
wards was sorry to part with it. Dr. E. 



APPENDIX. 60 

administered tlie cliloroform, which I did 
not like, and pushed it away in disgust; 
but there was no time to trifle — " do or die," 
was the motto. 

The cloth was held to my mcuth the 
second time with more success than at first, 
but was taken away before I became insen- 
sible, and, feeling somewhat better, I told 
the doctor I was not asleep. " Are you 
not?" said the good-natured gentleman. 
" [N'o," said I. '' Well, then, take some 
more," he said. It was put to my mouth 
the third time, when I became wholly in- 
sensible, and was unable to tell the doctor 
that I was asleep. I was then taken into 
the operating-room, where the surgeon 
severed from my body a worthy friend, and 
one that had rendered good service for 
twenty-three years. 

Alas ! my friend, thou'rt gone and left me, 
Thy absence to lament and mourn ; 

But aid from God is not bereft me, 
For he, to me, does help retm-n. 

I felt much better next morning, after the 
amputation, and now began to recover. 



TO APPENDIX. 

My wounds were carefully dressed by Dr. 
Hobie, whose presence, to me, was as good 
as his medicine. He always went cheer- 
fully about his work, which was accom- 
panied with the well known ditties, " Annie 
of the Yale," or " Fairy Belle." 

There was another young man, who I 
must not forget to speak of, and who used 
to join in the chorus with the doctor. This 
man was a very efficient nurse, and inter- 
ested liimself in the welfare of the patients. 
His name is Leonard, and after Dr. R. had 
left on a visit to his friends, he took charge 
of my arm. 

Still another, whose name is Gould, who 
was shot in the leg, and having his left arm 
amputated on the field, was brought to this 
hospital in a very weak condition. This 
man w^as my 2:)articular friend ; he was also, 
being an intelligent young man, a favorite 
of the ladies, and who would smile in the 
midst of pain. He is now, by his own re- 
quest, discharged from the service, having 
an artificial arm, and is, I understand, doing 
well. 



APPENDIX. 71 

Tbere were also five rebels in tliis hospital, 
four being from JSTorth Carolina and one 
from South Carolina. The Soutli Caro- 
linian was a very intelligent man, but a 
bitter enemy to our cause, and who had lost 
his leg below the knee. With him I had 
several controversies, but all to no use. His 
name was Hanahan, whose brothers were 
merchants, then living in Charleston, S. C, 
and who owned quite a number of slaves. 

On one occasion, Gen. Thomas Francis 
Meagher came to see him, and introduced 
his lady to the sergeant, for he was an orderly 
in the rebel service. In him, also, the ladies 
took a great interest. There was another, a 
North Carolinian, who slept in the north- 
east corner of the room. This man said 
that he was conscripted into the rebel ranks, 
being a resident of ISTewbern, and was en- 
gaged to be married at the time, but had 
heard that his adored was then wed to 
another, which I am sure made him feel 
sad, as he often talked about Iier. This 
man had also lost a leg. 

Oh ! cruel war, why didst thou sunder 



72 APPENDIX. 

the cords of affection, wliicli bound this once 
happy pair ! 

I might truly say that he was loyal to the 
Stars and Stripes, and he said he did not fire 
a shot against us. He and the South Caro- 
linian had many an argument concerning 
the illegality of the rebellion, which proves 
his loyalty to the Union cause. His name 
was Gaskin. 

There was another who was wounded in 
the shoulder, and had much the same kind 
of story to relate, excepting the marriage. 
This man was also conscripted into the rebel 
ranks, but refused to serve, and for which 
he was condemned to be whipped, the 
marks being quite visible on his back. Not 
satisfied with this, they put him under a 
pump, and while in that position, threatened 
his life if he would not consent to serve. 
So to save his and the lives of his family, 
he at last complied. His name was Sexton, 
and as an extension, we called him Grizzly 
Bear, for he was all bone, and being six 
feet three inches in stature, he appeared 
almost a giant. His temperament, how- 



APPENDIX:. 73 

erer, was very mild, and did not admit of 
the savage appellation given liim, altliongh, 
in one sense, lie acted like the one exhibited 
in the well known Barnnm's Mnseum. He 
would get up from his bed at night and 
walk np and dowm the room for nearly an 
lionr Yvithout stopping, and would after- 
wards go to the latter and scratcli for nearly 
another hour. He was also quite an eccen- 
tric fellow, and would pass many lively 
jokes among the patients, for which we 
were very much attached to him. He had 
a peculiar appetite for raw onions, saying 
tliat they were fine things to make one 
sleep. 

Of the otlier two, I will not speak much, 
they being of a sober disposition, and not 
given to conversation. One, a lieutenant, 
wlio belonged to the Eighteenth North 
Carolina regiment, the other a private in 
the same. The lieutenant had his slave, or 
servant, as he called him, attending liim 
while in the hospital. On one occasion he 
was asked by one of the nurses, if he was in 
need of anytliing. The answer was given 
7 



74 APPENDIX. 

in tlie negative, saying that his servant 
would attend to him. 

I mentioned that these men had not mucli 
to say ; but the okl adage is, that " still 
water runs deep." In short. Sambo became 
ill of the Typhoid fever, of which he died 
soon after, thus depriving the lieutenant of 
his services. 

These men were, afterwards, sent to tlie 
realms of Davis & Co. The rebel officer, 
however, was furnished with a new suit of 
■clothes by a kind secessionist of ^N'ew York, 
who is well known to many in Third Avenue, 
and especially to those who reside near the 
corner of Fiftieth street. 

June 2Sth, 1863. — I was transferred from 
this hospital to the St. Joseph's, at Central 
Park, being then a member of the Invalid, 
now Yeteran Eeserve Corps. Here I was 
very kindly treated by the Sisters who were 
in charge of the Institution. Dr. Gouly, 
however, was principal surgeon, a very aris- 
tocratic gentleman, and a strict disciplina- 
rian. I soon found I had work to perform, 
and was placed in the capacity of Ward 



APPENDIX. 75 

master, whicli office I held until mj removal 
to ISTew Haven, Conn. 

On one occasion, Dr. G. came to where I 
was sitting playing chequers — which game 
I was very fond of — and asked me if I had 
nothing else to do, reprimanding me, at the 
same time, for associating with privates. 
He said, that there were several non-com- 
missioned officers around the buildino; with 
whom I might associate, and, at the same 
time, he said, if I continued keeping com- 
pany with my inferiors, that they would not 
obey me. 

I was transferred from this hospital, on the 
20th day of August, to the Knight Hos- 
2)ital, INfew Haven, Connecticut. This in- 
stitution is conducted by Surgeon P. A. 
Jewett, a very efficient person, and it is one 
of the best in N^ew England. It contained, 
at the time I became an inmate, about live 
hundred and fifty patients, nearly all of 
whom were convalescent. 

Here I was a stranger for about three 
weeks, when I became acquainted Avith some 
very excellent ladies, who have shown, by 



76 APPENDIX. 

their kindly offices, that they are soldiers' 
friends. I wonld mention some of them, 
hut in doing justice to a few, I might, by 
implication, do injustice to many. Their 
names, however, are inscribed on the tablets 
of my memory. 

A portion of the mirth-loving patients had 
organized themselves into a band of min- 
strels, doing ample justice to the negro 
character, and who were a lively set of fel- 
lows. I would mention, that the surgeon iu 
charge was very fond of the eccentric. On 
one occasion, he appointed four one-legged 
men to run races in the yard attached to the 
building, and the man who should win the 
race was to receive one dollar. This created 
quite a sensation among the cripples. The 
race was run twice, the same man Avinning 
both heats. The distance was five rods. 

A German friend of mine said, that ho 
would give ten dollars if this war was at an 
cud. 1 asked him if he would not give 
more, telling liim that I would give ten and 
one-half. '' JSTo ;" said he, "I give it to 
make Chef Davis as tight as ter tivel." I 



APPENDIX. 77 

told him it would not take tliat much to 
make him tight. " Oh, veil," said he, "I 
give him some goot stuff; I make him 
drmik on champagne." I think he ought 
to be made drunk on " real pain." 

A young lady, in visiting that hospital, 
inquired for her brother ; but, when asked 
his name, said she had quite forgotten it. 
Suddenly she recollected that she had a 
number of brothers, but had forgotten their 
names also — a very treacherous memory, 

Oct. St/i. — One of the inmates of the 
guard-house being allowed to go outside, in 
company with one of the guards, and said 
guard, being anxious to peruse the morning 
paper, left his prisoner to himself and step- 
ped to one side. At an opportune moment, 
however, knowing tliat he had been con- 
fined long enough, prisoner made his escape 
in triumph. 

Oct. 9th. — ^The guard-hoTise contained 

thirty-two inmates. Some of these were 

confined for drunkenness, some for being 

absent at roll-call, and others for going out 

7* 



78 APPENDIX. 

on French leave. Tlie prisoners confined 
there did not seem to mind it much, as they 
were amply provided for. One young 
man, speaking ironically, said, this rebel- 
lion would soon be ended if the public 
only knew what good care is taken of 
soldiers in hospitals, how the men would all 
volunteer, and get wounded, for the sake of 
getting there. 

Oct. 10th, — The number of prisoners had 
increased to thirty-nine. They enjoyed 
themselves pretty well, notwithstanding tlie 
small place allowed them for recreation, the 
room being only twelve feet wide by twen- 
ty long. 

On this occasion there was quite a num- 
ber of lady visitors, and, among other ob- 
jects, tlie guard-house was the theatre ot 
attraction, which the ladies went to see, ac- 
companied by their soldier friends. After 
exchanghig many words of sympathy for 
the prisoners, the fair sex were ordered away 
by one of the guards. 

The men had a violin, and were enjoying 
its thrilling notes, putting in practice the 



APPENDIX. 79 

words of tlie poet, " Music liatli charms to 
soothe a savage hreast." 

I staid in this hospital until the 15th of 
Oct., wlien I was transferred to Bedloe's 
Island, New York. Before leaving, how- 
ever, three cheers were given for Major 
Jewett. 

Arrived atBedloe's Island on the IGth of 
Oct. Here we had very comfortable quar- 
ters, and, I may say, safe ones too, as regards 
running the guards or taking French leave ; 
for we could obtain but a bird's-eye view^ of 
the Empire City, and wished ourselves once 
more on the soil of !N^ew Haven. In short, 
I became a modern Bobinson Crusoe, only 

I was not monarch of all I survej^ed, 
My rights there were some to dispute ; 

From the centre, all around to the sea, 
Uncle Sam did those rights confute. 

We were at liberty, however, to go all over 
the Island, and through the Fort, which is 
not a very formidable one, and, in my judg- 
ment, could not resist a heavy storm, having 
fifty -four guns for its defense. While at the 
latter j)lace, I employed my time in writing, 



80 APPENDIX. 

or rather, learning to write ! for, in the 
former, I was not proficient. 

I soon became accustomed to my new 
abode, but desired a change, owing to the 
too frequent visits of rats with which the 
place aboPinds. These were very offensive, 
and would often make very destructive raids 
on our clothing and the faces of my room- 
mates, often biting the latter, but being 
good tacticians, they always retreated in 
safety. Here I remained until the 28th of 
I^ovember, when I was transferred to my 
compan}^, it being stationed at David's 
Island. But it was only jumping out of the 
frying-pan into the fire, the change being in 
no way a desirable one. 

Of the latter place I will not say much, 
nor recommend it to those who may be 
placed in the same predicament, for I suf- 
fered intensely with the cold. My stay here 
was but short, and on the 1st of December, 
was sent to Fort Schuyler, I^ew York 
Harbor. 

The hospital, at the latter, was conducted 
by Dr. Webster, a very able and efficient 



APPENDIX, 81 

surgeon. Here we had excellent quarters 
provided. Our company occupied one of 
the Wards or Barraclis intended for the 
2)atients, of whom there were seven hun- 
dred. 

This hospital is divided irto three sections, 
A. B. and C. Section A. having ten wards, 
E, ten, and C, fourteen. Each ward could 
accommodate about fifty patients. There 
was a steward in charge of each section, and 
nurses in charge of wards. A railroad was 
Luilt around the hospital, by which the food 
was sent to the different wards ; this was 
roofed overhead, affording shelter from the 
rain and snow. In the centre, and near 
head-quarters, stands a neat little church, of 
gothic architecture, in which service was 
held every Sabbath. 

In short, I was sent to the executive 
office, where I made some proficiency in 
writing. Mr. Chapman, who was chief 
clerk, proposed that we should organize a 
debating club of the clerks in tlie ofiice, 
which was agreed to. It was therefore de- 
cided that we should open our debate uu 



82 APPENDIX. 

the following 'Wednesda}^ The subject pro- 
posed for discussion was as follows : 

" Resolved^ Tliat our forefathers had no 
right to encroach upon the possessions of 
the Eed Man." 

Each debatee was to write out his sub- 
ject. Our first discussion was held in the 
office, the object being for our mutual im- 
provement. I now give my debate or 
affirmative side of the question, which I was 
appointed to take. 

JResolved^ That our forefathers had no 
right to encroach upon the possessions of the 
Kod Man. 

Mr. President, — The question we are 
about to discuss is one of imj^tortaiice — it 
not only concerns those engaged in its dis- 
cussion, but the community at large. It 
remains for me to prove, sir, that our fore- 
fathers had a right to deprive the red man 
of the land wdiich he possessed, that they 
might establish a government, which foun- 
dation was to be built upon the principles 



APPENDIX. 83 

of justice, liberty, and humanity. Tlicse, 
Mr. President, should exclude all otlier 
chiims. If the red man had held predomin- 
ancy in the land, many of the millions who 
now possess the light of the Gospel, might 
have remained in ignorance. They would 
not have known the use of the plough, the 
spade, and the harrow. They would not 
have known the first rudiments of husbandry. 
In the main, civilization would not be hailed 
with joy by the thousands who now possess 
its gratifying influences. Was it not a duty, 
sir, incumbent upon our predecessors, to 
open the way for the progress of religion 
and civilization, and while such obstacles 
stood in the way of these, was it not neces- 
sary that they should be eradicated ? We 
all know that the savage loves his native 
sliore ; we also know that he loves the 
forest, wbere he may chase the wild deer — 
these are his delights. Talk to him about 
the cultivation of the soil — he knows noth- 
ing about it. He would say, " give me my 
own mountain home, and I care not for the 
pursuits which you may teach me, since 



81: APPENDIX. 

they tend to deprive the Indian of the liap- 
piiiess which he was wont to enjoy from his 
Youtli. "We cannot abide in your populated 
towns and vilhiges ; we prefer onr wig- 
wams." They prefer the lower caste while 
we prefer the higher. " AYe are averse to 
your mode of living; in tTutli, vre are averse 
to civilized life, and things pertaining to it. 
Our tools are the tomahawk, the hatchet, 
aiui the scalping-knife — with these we will 
live, with these we will die." ''But," say 
our forefathers, " in lieu of the things which 
you say we deprive you of, we offer those 
that are niore essential ; if you accept them, 
tiiey are free ; then you will be equal with 
us ; if not, then must we establish them. 
You are averse to civilization, since you do 
not know the value of it ; nor will we allow 
barbarism to stand in the way cf the lat- 
ter." 

Civilization, Mr. President, must be 
foremost in the ranks of nations, for it is that 
which makes nations what tliey are. Do 
we not see it verified every year ? If there 
is anything which prevents it, then must it 



APPENDIX. 85 

also prevent the one thing needful, namely, 
the spread of the Gospel. 

Our forefathers knew this, and to estab- 
lish the latter, they must necessarily eradi- 
cate the first. I ask, was it not essential ? 
The command was given, " go ye into all 
the world and preach the Gospel to every 
creature," and in going forth on such a holy 
mission, did our forefathers expect to meet 
with no opposition — were there no obstacles 
in the w^ay ? if there were any, then was it 
a duty to remove them ? 

iS"© doubt, Mr. President, there were some 
among our predecessors, to whom that com- 
mand was given ; and to proclaim such glad 
tidings, it was incumbent upon them to use 
every means in their power, especially when 
the savage was opposed to that which per- 
tained unto his temporal and spiritual in- 
terests. 

'' Ask of me and I will give thee the 
heathen for thine inheritance, and the utter- 
most parts of the earth for thy possession." 
Thus it was necessary for our forefathers to 
possess the land of the red man. 
8 



86 APPENDIX. 

The celebrated Ilariot, in 1585 — ninety- 
three years after America's discovery — wrote 
an account of ISTorth America, and to prove 
the richness of the soil, had introduced to 
Europe three productions, which were of 
immense consequence. The potato^, tlie 
Indian corn, and tobacco. This insured a 
renewal of the enterprise the following year. 
It was attempted, but was in a measure a 
failure, because they did not use force 
enough. Thus, Bancroft, another celebrated 
historian, says the stimulus of private pro- 
perty has always been found not to be 
spared, when it hinders the production of 
industry and wealth. 

Our forefathers were well aware of this^ 
and to promote the interest of civilization 
and religion, they took the possessions of the 
red man. Their better judgment taught 
them that he had no rights that the white 
man was bound to respect ; that he followed 
no industrial pursuits that the white man 
might envy. On the other hand, there was 
no beauty in him that he should be desired — 
all was desolation. It seemed, sir, that the 



APPENDIX. 87 

hand of Providence had worked out this 
scheme, and through his will it Avas con- 
cocted. That scheme, if I may so call it, 
has been a triumphant one ; millions have 
realized the desirableness of it. Through it 
the Gospel sound is heard in the dark places 
of the earth. Industry and agriculture have 
been taught to many benighted lands. Tlie 
country we have taken possession of, has 
proved a happy boon to thousands. It is 
the mart where all nations may bring theij 
produce, where their rights will be re- 
spected, where they can live peaceably 
and happy under one glorious banner of 
liberty. 

It seems, Mr. President, that this land was 
reserved for the purposes set forth. Tlirongli 
its possession, we have been enabled to dis- 
pense, with a willing hand, many comforts 
to the starving inhabitants of Europe. I 
care not, sir, what my opponent may say to 
the contrary, he cannot, without proving 
that black is white, prove that our fore- 
fiithers had no right to possess the land of 
the red man. 



05 ArPENDIX. 

What rig-bt bad be to show that it was bis, 
and from wbom did be receive bis patent ? 
lie bad none, nor did be know of any ; tbe 
wbite man taught bim that, after be bad 
gained possession. They understood not 
right or wa-ong, for bow could tbey know 
tbe difference, tbey were never taught it ? 
I^eitber does a wolf know of a wrono^ done 
tbe farmer, after it has devoured bis lamb. 
Xor does the red man know, by bis aversion 
to civilization and religion, that be is doing 
a fatal injury to mankind ; be is not at all 
aware of it. Thus be must be taught, and 
to teach bim, you must wdiip bim, as the 
schoolmaster whips the obstinate sclioolboy ; 
being bis superior, be knows what is best 
for him. 

And, sir, having particularized tbe many 
blessings which have arisen from tbe pos- 
sessions of tbe red man, I may safely expect 
that you will decide in favor of tbe affirma- 
tive. I have endeavored to prove that bar- 
barism batli no abiding place with civiliza- 
tion ; and to establish tbe one, you must 
necessarily eradicate tbe other. They can- 



APPENDIX. 89 

not live peaceably together, for they are 
enemies. 

Thus, Mr. President, I have attempted to 
show that om* predecessors were justified in 
taking the affirmative side of the question. 
If they were here, I should then produce 
the livino^ witnesses ; but thouo-h they are 
not present in body, yet their spirit is always 
before us. A noble republic, which they 
have formed upon this once barren waste, 
remains as a witness. The pilgrims, who 
poured out their supplications on Plymouth 
rock, remain as witnesses. Our latest 
voyagers, in trying to explore some new 
land, that they inight phant the flag of 
liberty on its soil, and be accounted a colony 
of the young republic, they also remain 
witnesses. 

What I have said, Mr. President, may 
suffice. I will therefore trust to your good 
judgment for a decision in favor of the 
affirmative. 



90 APPENDIX. 

Debate second. 

Resolved^ That the desire of fame is a 
greater stimulant to exertion than that of 
wealtli 

Mr. President, — ^The subject proposed for 
discussion is certainly an important one — 
one that has interested all nations, and still 
continues to stimulate the public mind to an 
exertion of that much to be desired object — 
" fame." 

Fame, Mr. President, stimulates to exer- 
tion in various ways. The rich and the 
poor, the king and the lowest subject, are 
desirous of possessing it. His sovereign 
majesty's desire is to gain the good opinion 
of his subjects, to make wise and equable 
laws for the governing of his kingdom, and 
if war should be declared, he puts his king- 
dom in a state of defence, that he may 
defeat his enemies, and thereby establish his 
reputation. That is his desire. It is not 
wealth, not gold, for he has these at his 
command, but desires to hold the sceptre, 
that it may not be given to another. 



APPENDIX. 91 

Fame, then, is the object sought and at- 
tained. Education may be an object aimed 
at, through which man may gain a reputa- 
tion. He may become wealthy by the pos- 
session of it. When I say wealthy, I mean 
as regards this world's goods, riches, what 
men term a sufficient amount of property. 
To be able to pay your rent when the land- 
lord pays you a visit. To meet the demands 
of your better half when she wants a new 
sett of crinoline. To be able to purchase a 
cradle for the baby, and a pair of shoes when 
it becomes old enough to wear them. In 
short, to meet the demands of the domestic 
circle, and when having supplied all these, 
you will be deemed wealthy. But I ask, is 
this fame ? True, you are going in a direct 
line for the possession of it, that is one way. 
The baby will strut about the room exhi])it- 
ing its new shoes ; you have created within 
it a desire to become something more than 
a baby. It is the desire of fame immaturely 
developed in that young mind. The madam, 
to exhibit your affluence, puts on a larger 
sett of crinoline, or displays her costly orna- 



92 APPENDIX. 

ments to the world, that she may establish 
a reputation, that she may be thought 
famous. Thus, I have attempted to show 
that the desire of fame stimulates to exer- 
tion in various ways, while the desire of 
wealth is only secondary to the procurement 
of the other. 

To strike the nail on tlie head the blow 
must be square, then you will send it home 
without knocking the head off. That is our 
intention, and it is also the intention of the 
world. Some are striking one way, some 
another, but their sole object is to drive it 
home. One man uses a wooden mallet, 
another the hammer ; thus it is with all, they 
are trying to promote their interests in some 
way, while their only desire is to strike the 
one object, and that is fame. 

Fame ! thou brighter gem ! Princes of the 
earth h ave sought thee, casting their crowns 
at thy feet ; they would fain possess thee. 

King Richard would have given his king- 
dom rather than lose the battle, that he 
might hold his reputation, and cried out, 
midst the roar of cannon, " A horse ! a 



APPENDIX. 93 

liorse ! My kingdom for a horse ! I" He 
knew what fame meant, yes ; lie would have 
been satisfied with a jackass. 

Shakspeare knew what fame meant, 
when he said : ^' Who steals my purse, steals 
trash, 'tis something, nothing ; 't'was mine, 
'tis his, and has been slave to thousands ; but 
he who filches from me my good name, rohs 
me of that which ne'er enriches him, but 
makes me poor indeed." 

"We see^the desire of fame developed in this 
present struggle, while both parties contend 
for the mastery. The chivalric sons of the 
South on the one hand, and the " mudsills" 
of the North on the other, are contending 
with an iron grasp that they may establish 
a reputation. 

It was the desire for fame, sir, that in- 
volved our nation in this difficulty, a diffi- 
culty of enormous magnitude. 

Fame is the main-spring by which the 
time-piece of nations is kept in order ; and 
while such men as Washington, Jeffer&on, 
Jackson, Clay, "Webster, Franklin and 
Grant, while these have set such noble ex- 



94 APPENDIX. 

amples, as are recorded in history, in wind- 
ing up tlie old clock, is there no desire, no 
stimulant, to exert us to keep it in running 
order ? Yes, Mr. President, we see the de- 
sire predominating in our land. America 
is contending for fame ; is setting a good 
exap-iple, and ere long will have established 
a more lasthig reputation. 

England, on the other side of tlie Atlantic, 
seems to understand the meaning of the 
word fame, and is building her iron clads 
and fortifying her harbors that she may de- 
fend it. France, on the other hand, under- 
stands it, and desired to attain a larger por- 
tion than that she possessed, but failed. 
Johnny Crapeau's stimulants were too strong 
for him, and led him to take advantage of 
our present difficulty, in order that he might 
inherit the State of Texas, and thereby es- 
tablish his reputation. 

Take ISTapoleon the first, for illustration. 
What prompted him, when a poor boy, to 
become the hero, the conqueror, the great 
warrior, the famous Kapoleon ? Was it not 
the desire of fame ? Look at him when a 



APPENDIX. 95 

scliool-boj, forming his comrades into com- 
panies and exercising them in the art of war. 
Truly the desire of fame stimulated him at 
a very early age. Yes ; he hit the nail on 
the head and used the hammer. 

"We see men in our day, sir, making the 
same efforts. Do we not see it verified in 
the conflict that is raging in our midst, in 
this once happy and glorious Eepuhlic ? 

Men may say, that it is not for fame we 
are now contending. I dispute it. True, 
we may be anxious to obtain a largo portion 
of this world's goods, and are lusting after 
the seed of Abraham, " GreenbacksV' but 
is this the only object ? ]S"o ; the very de- 
sire for wealth, and exertions for the various 
offices by which they may attain this wealth, 
are preparatory to the precoveted object, 
namely, the desire of fame. 

Tims, I have shown that the desire of 
wealth is only a preface to the obtaining of 
the other. 

Solomon says: "A good name is rather 
to be chosen than great riches." Fame, then, 
may consist in a good name, and I contend', 



OS 



APPENDIX. 



that the desire of it is a greater stimulant to 
exertioTi than that of wealth. 

To illustrate the argument, let us take 
some of our great statesmen ; Washington, 
Jackson, Henry Clay, Webster, and others. 
Was it the desire of wealth that stimulated 
these to the exertions wliich they made in 
erecting the ediiice of this noble Kepublic ? 
No ; a holier and purer motive inspired tlieir 
breasts, the fire of patriotic zeal burned 
within, prompting them to a greater woi-k, 
that of establishing, for themselves and 
country, a lasting reputation. This, sir, 
they have accomplished ; the country is 
wealthy to-day, and the inhabitants of the 
old continent know this and are immigra- 
ting by thousands. Why ? Because it bears 
a good report — its reputation is estab- 
livshcd. 

Who will dispute then, seeing so many 
proofs, that fame is no stimulant to exertion ? 
^ I may say, that it stimulates us to an exer- 
tion in its favor, while we contend for a de- 
cision on the one side or the other. We 
prove, sir, by our presence here, that we are 



APPENDIX. 97 

contending for that one object, althongli it 
may be on a small scale. 

I might say, that it is the desire of fame 
that stimulates a large number of our offi- 
cers to offer sums of money, that they may 
gain the title of^ Lieut. A., or Lieut. B., 
Capt. a, or Capt. D., and when having ob- 
tained the title, the desire again prompts 
them to get an extra bar on their shoulder 
straps, or an extra button on tlieir coat 
tails. 

King John, when they were about to cut 
off his famous moustache, cried: "Oh! 
take my head, for Vve no place to put it ; 
but my superb moustache— I pray don't 
cut it." 

Who will contend, sir, that the desire of 
fame does not stimulate to exertion more 
than all others? Will Solomon, Shaks- 
peare, or Benjamin Franklin? ]S"o; they 
speak in glowing terms of its merits. Tlie 
marks that they leave behind, give no room 
for disputation. Take the latter gentleman 
for an example ; see him workin^^ his way 
9 ^ 



98 APPENDIX. 

to the exalted position in wliicli he was 
j^hiced. Look at him when a boy, toiling 
in the office of his brother, that he might 
become a printer. But the desire of fame 
still urged him on, nutil he became one of 
our most accomplished statesmen. I need not 
recount the works of a Franklin, nor of a 
Shakspeare, for they are cherished within 
the breasts of every lover of genius and 
history. 

There are thousands of witnesses that I 
might mention to establish my argument, 
but I need not recall them. History por- 
trays their deeds of heroism and worth. 
They were men in every sense. It was not 
gold that made them so. A good reputa- 
tion makes men, and the want of it the 
fellow. 

I have endeavored to show, that the de- 
sire of fame is a greater stimulant to exertion 
than that of wealth ; although I may have 
used the mallet in driving the nail, yet I 
trust tiiat I have lent some assistance to the 
other workmen ; and if I have not knocked 
the head oS*, then I shall be satisfied. 



APPENDIX. 99 

Fellow Slt^feeers,— To you I would ad 
dress a few words of consolation, altliougli 
that whicli I may say will not suffice'to 
console you for the irreparable losses you 
sustained in defense of your country. 
I In the first place I would remark, that you 
have come through all the trials and hard- 
shij^s to which you were subjected, stainless, 
except that which the bullet of the enemy 
left in your bodies, a stain that will never 
be imputed to you as a disgrace ; but, on 
the other hand, you may have reason to be 
proud of, I may say, such honorable scars 
as those received — 

Amid blood and carnpge wild, 
When for liberty yon toiled ; 
When the cannon loud did roar 
On the field of crimson gore. 

Be not discouraged, my fellow-sufferers, 
when thus afflicted ; you will yet become 
triumphant, and though yon may render no 
more service to your country in this her 
hour of need, yet, by the example you have 
shown, for which none can impeach you 
with cowardice, you will at the end arise 
victorious. 



100 APPENDIX. 

No doubt you grieve for the loss sustained, 
but never, I trust, regret the indomitable 
service rendered, by which you lost a pre- 
cious limb, by which health may be 
impaired. 

You may be deprived of joining in tlie 
sports and festivities of which you were once 
partakers : but, notwithstanding all this, 
there are other means by which the human 
mind can be entertained, and a provision 
made for all our wants; this kind Provi- 
dence has wisel}^ set apart for the piirpose 
of supplying the deficiencies incurred in re- 
storing peace to our once happy and pros- 
perous countrj^ He is able to su23ply all 
our wants and necessities ; therefore, my 
suffering friends, you need not fear, for tlie 
injunction is given — 

To the weary, heavy laden, 
Weak and wounded, sick and sore, 

He is able, lie is willing, 
Doub^i no more. 

Many of you have wealthy relations, from 
whom you derive support; to such I would 
Bay, " you have reason to be thankful." 



APPENDIX. 101 

Others there are who have but few of the 
l^ecuniary blessings, and to those I would 
saj, " be thankful also ;•' with you I can 
sympathize. 

Many of you have a wife, a sister, for 
whom you have braved the dangers of the 
battle, and for their protection encountered 
numerous difficulties ; such I honor and 
respect. Show me the individual who 
would not say '* you've done well," and I at 
once come to the conclusion that he or she 
is void of patriotism. From such, the 
country need not expect support, and I am 
sorry to say there are some who give no 
encouragement, but on the other hand, con- 
demn you as a pauper, and would cast you 
away as the scum and dross of society. 
From these, 1 say, you derive no succor ; 
but let them consider for a moment. Have 
you encountered the trials and dangers of a 
soldier's life for naught ? Have you left 
home and friends for such, and receive no 
recompense ? Have you, when our country 
called to arms the brave and true, gone 
forth at its call, to receive no friendly greet- 
9^ 



102 APPENDIX. 

ings ? Have you left your workshops and 
nieclianical institutions for tlie mere lov^e of 
self? I answer, no, a brighter and purer 
motive inspired your breasts, until the fire 
of patriotic zeal burned within, promptly 
bidding you go fight in defense of your 
country, its laws, its institutions, and a 
liberty-loving people. Who then shall im- 
peach you with cowardice, will say you've 
done wrong, that you have fouglit in a 
wrong cause ? ISTone ; you leave no room 
for such an impeachment. You leave no 
stain that might be imputed to you. 

If you had stayed at home, and said, " let 
others fight my counti-y's battles, what need 
is there that I should interest myself about 
it?" then you would be entitled to these 
impeachments. Therefore, I say, you have 
come through tlie conflict stainless ; you 
hearkened to the voice of justice at the pro- 
per hour and at the desired time. 

You stayed not for questions while freedom stood gasping, 
Nor waited till honor lay wrapped in its pall ; 

Brief were the lips meeting, swift the hands clasjiiug, 
Off for the war was enough for you all. 



APPENDIX. 103 

Y(?s, by your noble efforts, tlie country 
will be saved. Can you ever forget the day 
yoLi parted from loved ones at home, when 
that solemn but impressive word, "fare- 
well," was littered by a mother, a sister, or 
younger brothers ? Can you forget the 
solemn warning imparted by that mother, 
who watched with a tearful eye the footsteps 
of her son, as he wended his way to the 
steamboat or railroad car? The answer 
comes home to yourself, " I never can." 

I never shall forget the day 
When parental joys were sundered — 

When mother, with a tearful eye, 
My boyhood days had numbered. 

In conclusion, let me say, that you have 
faithfully discharged the duty incumbent 
upon you, faithfully responded to your 
country's call, cheerfully bore the fatigue of 
long marches, and under eveiy circumstance, 
faithfully performed the work assigned to 
you, for which you are entitled to the 
thanks of a free and liberty-loving com- 
munity. 

Once more — I cannot conclude without 



104 APPENDIX. 

saying a few words bj way of an appeal to 
the reader, if lie be a young man, and lias 
any doubts concerning how this war will 
end, or whether it will end at all. But, my 
young friend, you and I know that it must 
end some time, and if you will only buckle 
on the armor, as I have done, there can be 
no doubt as to its speedy termination. Cast 
aside that which binds you to home and 
friends. 

Break from the arms that would fondly caress you — 
Hark ! 'tis the bugle blast, sabres are drawn ; 

Mothers shall pray for you, fathers shall bless you, 
Maidens shall weep for you when you are gone. 

Men, now-a-days, esteem their services of 
too much importance, and think that their 
country is under an obligation to them ; 
though it should pay a thousand dollars' 
bounty for the protection of their own 
homes and firesides, that they are bound by 
reason of justice and humanity to figlit 
for. 

But life is too precious to sacrifice for a 
country that has nourished and cherished 
them, as a mother would her tender charge. 



APPENDIX. 105 

Tliey ask, "Why allow tlie coTUitiy to bo 
plunged into war?" James Buchanan could 
better answer that question, but would rather 
decline. Tliat simple-minded old bachelor, 
while filling his pockets and playing with 
his pet-kittens, allowed the country to go to 
ruin ; whereas this destructive rebellion 
might have been averted, if he had not 
been attending to his self-interests. lie 
knew, having held the reins of government, 
that this country would be thrown into civil 
war — that at the outburst it might have 
been blown to atoms, had he used his can- 
non, as the people expected that it should 
be used. But I am sorry to say, he never 
fired anything but blank cartridges. He 
never fired a single solid shot during his ad- 
ministration. There was no solidity in him. 
ISTow he is gone out, leaving another to build 
and cement the shattered walls of a once 
happy and glorious republic. His name, at 
this day, is nothing but a blot, and his his- 
tory will be that of blackness. 

Ah! we placed the wrong cannon on our 
ramparts, for it always missed fire. It was 



106 APPENDIX. . 

only a smooth boar (bore). But, as the 
Jews said of old, we have Abraham to our 
father, and, being an honest patriarch, have 
placed him in the Presidential chair to 
guide the old ship of state, and drag it o& 
the accursed sand-bar, on which an inex- 
perienced pilot has driven it. Uncle Abe 
has kept his powder dry so far, and has 
fired some very big guns. The Emancipa- 
tion Proclamation, which I am about to dis- 
cuss, was one of them. They vary in color, 
too; some are white, some black, and others 
of a brown color. 

It does not make any difference, how^ever, 
if the arm is only strong and sinewy, that is 
what we want — treason must not go un- 
punished. The banner of stars shall yet 
wave over the stars and bars ; events that 
are transpiring in our midst prove it. 

Thus w^ill we triumph, when the Star- 
spangled Banner doth wave o'er the land 
of the free and the home of the brave. 



APPENDIX. 107 

Debate third. 

Resolved^ Tliat the Emancipation Pro- 
clamation was inexpedient. 

Mr. Pkesident, — The question proposed 
for discussion is one that has interested the 
minds of the American people, and will con- 
tinue to create various opinions on the sub- 
ject, until it is fully solved. Thus we meet 
here this evening to discuss that very im- 
portant point, viz., the inexpediency of the 
Emancipation Proclamation. 

Before I begin my argument, it may be 
necessary for us to know what tlie word 
" inexpedient " means, in order to find out 
wherein the blemish lies. 

The word means simply this, " that which 
does not tend to a good end, unfit, improper, 
unsuitable to time and place. Shall I say 
that it was inexpedient ? Shall I say that 
no good originated from it, that it was un- 
suitable to time and place, that it was im- 
proper, unfit to be issued, and put forth at 
an unsuitable time % In other words, shall 
I condemn the President for the indomitable 



108 APPENDIX. 

good produced by so wise, so judicious an 
undertaking ? 'No ! uot if I know myself. 
I cannot condemn tliat wliicli was just and 
upright, that which will be a lasting good 
to the American people and to mankind in 
general. 

What good has it accomplished ? Let ns 
see. Of those who were shives at the out- 
break of this rebellion, full two hundred 
thousand are now in the United States 
military service, and one Imndred thousand 
of these actually bear arms in our country's 
defense, thus giving the advantage of taking 
so much labor from the rebellious States, 
and supplying the places which otherwise 
mnst be filled with so many white men. 
Was it improper ? Let us see. A father 
puts in the hands of his son a pistol, and 
tells him to shoot at a target ; the boy does 
so, but in his endeavor to fire it off, the 
father sees that he is liable to shoot himself 
and others, and takes the weapon from him. 
Thus it is with the mock Confederacy ; see- 
ing that it was likely to do a great deal of 
injury, we must wrest the weapon from its 



APPENDIX. ^ 109 

hands — we niTist take this power away, and 
lay it aside, that they may not get hold of 
it, for, if they should come to possess it 
again, they would certainly do a great deal 
of injury. 

Was, it improper that we shouki do this? 
No ! If it is not improper to confiscate the 
property of your enemy for public use — 
and I believe that is the rule of warfare — 
you can also take the slaves, and make use 
of them in the army, or elsewhere, for they 
were the strong arm of the Confederacy. 
Was it inexpedient at the tin:ie it was 
issued ? No ! There could not boa more 
expedient one, since it tends to the termina- 
tion of this gigantic rebellion — since it 
draws the substance from the bone, leaving 
it to be filled up with other matter. My 
opponents may argue, that it stimulates the 
South to a greater exertion in retaining their 
slave property. No doubt it do.es; but 
while they are doing this, they lessen their 
strength, which might otherwise be em- 
ployed in filling xi-p the ranks of their army. 
The slave, on the other hand, knowing that 



110 APPENDIX. 

he was proclaimed free, will no donbt exert 
himself in endeavoring to rmi away. Tims, 
the time and money of his master is spent 
in vainly endeavoring to arrest him, which 
might otherwise be expended in lending 
assistance in the field. 

Give them slavery, sir, and you give them 
riches, power; they are better adapted to 
w^ar against yon ; in other words, you are 
giving the master a rod to punish yourself. 
Take these things away, and their power is 
lessened ; they are not so fully prepared to 
punish you. You break the rod in twain. 
Was it not, therefore, expedient that this 
should be done when treason was rife in tlie 
land ? There is not an American to-day, or 
an adopted one, who would not say that the 
President's plan was a wise, jnst, and patri- 
otic one. Therefore, it must be expedient. 

For a series of years prior to this war, the 
South had much cause of complaint, but 
none for rebellion ; and for such, every 
honest man will condemn their treasonable 
course. In the annals of history, or of the 
world, a more causeless rebellion never 



APPENDIX. Ill 

darkened any nation. Was it inexpedient, 
then, that the proclamation should be 
issued, and at a time, too, when justice, 
liberty, humanity, and the preservation of 
our national honor demanded it ? If it was, 
then I say, give up the ship. Let slavery 
pilot it. Give tlie South the helm ; do this, 
and you will run into the icebergs of de- 
struction. You would find, after a short 
anchor in the harbor, that the vessel would 
be trimmed, her sails set once more, her 
prow pointing forward, to hurl you against 
the breakers that have already proved so 
destructive to you and country. 

Slavery has been the turmoil, the agita- 
tor, and disturber of this continent. It has 
been the incursion of the American people. 
It has brought destruction upon its own 
head. It has destroyed our peace and hap- 
piness. It has brought about this present 
difficulty — one of enormous magnitude — a 
difficulty that has brouo-ht o-rief home to 
the hearts of many families. It has left 
numerous orphans and widows. It has 
caused the loss of health, life and limb, and 



112 APPENDIX. 

having bronglit about such miseries as these, 
was it not expedient that it should be eradi- 
cated? Yes. The many sufferers of our 
fellow-men will concur with me, that the 
proclamation issued in September, 1862, 
was conducing to the public interests of our 
country. Did the President, sir, not sift 
the matter thoroughly, before he undertook 
it, and offer a proposition to the South 
before he put it in force ? But they would 
not comply. The modern Pharaoh's heart 
was hardened — he chose death rather than 
life. But the Patriarch Abraham, weighing 
well the results, and studying the country's 
interests, issues his Bull of Emancipation, 
saying : " Let my children go." But they 
would not. They could not destroy the 
foundation of all their hopes. They said : 
'' We want them to build batteries, cast our 
shot and shell, to dig entrenchments, to till 
the soil, while tlie white man fights our bat- 
tles. We must not part with them, or our 
cause would be lost." Yes, they knew that, 
and father Abraham knew it too. Wa3 
such a proclamation as this inexpedient ? 



APPENDIX. 113 

At the outbreak of this rebellion, it was 
declared by the Southern chivalry, that Cot- 
ton was King. Why did they place such 
strong dependence in that king ? Because 
slavery was the crown which lie wore ; it 
was the throne on which he sat ; it was the 
foundation on which that throne was built. 
King Cotton, then, having so many attri- 
butes, it was deemed the nations of Europe 
would do him homage. But they now find 
their mistake. King Cotton has been de- 
throned ; his crown has faded ; his throne is 
crumbling to dust. This great earthquake 
that has disturbed you and 1, has shaken his 
foundation. The Lincoln gun, fired in 
January, 1863, has taken away his breath — 
has taken his strength away — ^poor King 
Cotton is dead ! who will restore him to 
life ? England and France tried it before 
life was almost extinct, but found it was of 
no use. Shall we, then, mourn his loss? 
No ! Bring forth the timbrel — shout tl;e 
glad tidings. Let us make merry, for h 
who sought the life of the young republic, 
s no more. 

10* 



114 ArrENDix. 

Nor can men sa|^, that tlie proclamation 
was nnconstitutional, for ^Secession was the 
overthrow of the Constitution. If I take 
my brother into partnership, and we bind 
ourselves by an agreement to assist and 
study each others' interests, has he a right 
to go to the safe and take all the money out 
without my consent, or contract debts, in 
my name, leaving me to pay them ? I think 
it would be very unjust. He should first 
consult his partner; if he felt aggrieved, then 
we might adjust our affairs to the satisfac- 
tion of both parties. He does not do this, 
but robs me of everything I had. I am 
bankrupt. lie might as well set iire to my 
house. Thus stood the Constitution. They 
would not keep it inviolate ; they robbed 
our treasury, contracted debts, and left us 
to pay them — we became bankrupt. Have 
we not a right, therefore, to avenge our 
wrongs, to have this property restored, no 
matter whether in the shape of money or 
negroes — for they are money — they are the 
property of our enemies? Should we not, 
then, weaken them at every point? Yes, 



APPENDIX. 115 

if it is proper to take his sheep or his oxen, 
his cows or his corn, we have also a riglit to 
take his negroes, for thej are property. If 
we liave a right to make a breech in the 
walls of his fortress, we have also h right to 
make a breech in his nigger. Having en- 
deavored to solve the question, sir, the only 
decision that I can arrive at, is, that it was 
not inexpedient; that it tends more to the 
good of the nation than the clash of arms • 
it is the destruction of the Confederacy' 
whose corner-stone and boast was slavery 
That the proclamation, sir, has a tendency 
to promote the interests of our nation, no 
one can dispute. That it has set a noble 
example to other powers, no one need 
deny. 

Having thus shown tlie happy results 
which have originated from it, and those 
hat will subsequently follow, I trust, there- 
lore, that you will decide in favor of the 
Qegativo. 



116 APPENDIX. 

THE SOLDIER THINKS OF THE LOVED 
AT HOME. 

He thinks of the loved ones at home, 

When walking his lonely beat ; 
And at the silent hour of night 

He dreams of home so sweet : 
He hears the well known voice of her 

That was his onlj joj, 
Who with solace sweet, comforts still 

Her soldier's infant bov. 

He thinks of the loved ones at homo — 

The thought still cheers him on ; 
At morn he hears the bugle's blast, 

And wakes at reveille drum : 
*Ti3 duty that calls him to arms — 

Thau bids him quickly obey, 
Its voice he has heard when at home, 

'Tis that he now hears when away. 

He thinka cf the loved ones at home,' 

And the friends he loved so dear, 
Tlie fond recollection of these 

Oft causes the falling tear : 
Wken battling for Country and Right, 

He fears not death's alarms, 
For the thought of the loved at home 

Brings naught to Win but cliarms. 

C. K. BUKNS 



APPENDIX. 117 



DEFEND THE RIGHT. 

Defend the right, defend tlie right, 
Ye men of noble fame, 

And by your courage and your might 
Defend this noble frame. 

Go battle for the right, brave boys- 
Heed not what traitors say; 

Boldly cling to the right, brave boys, 
And you will win the day. 

Defend the right, defend the right, 

Ye patriots bold and true ; 
Your country calls you to the fight — 

Your country calls on you. 
Columbia, and Columbia's laws. 

Defend with might and main ; 
Yours is the holiest, noblest cause — 

A nation's rights sustain. 

Defend the right, defend the righ*-., 

Saith your sires from their graves ; 
Defend the right, defend the right— 

Your children will be slaves ! 
And you, young heroes, battle too, 

With noble hearts and brave. 
For the land which you inherit, 

Is yours alone to save. 



118 APPENDIX. 

Defend the riglit, defend th^ riglit, 

Sweethearts and sisters dear, 
And urge your lovers, brothers on, 

Their weary hearts to cheer : 
Inspire them with true zeal and love, 

When they for Country fight, 
And pray that they may victors be 

In battling for the right. 

Defend the right, defend the right, 

Bold Erin's sons of Mars, 
"Who aid us in our just defense 

Of the old '^ Stripes and Stars." 
Tou, w^ho have fought for Liberty, 

When by wrongs oppressed ; 
Americans, will you assist 

To have those wrongs redressed ? 

Defend the right, defend the right, 

Ye men of England's Isle ; 
Too long you have leagued with treason 

To drive us from our soil : 
But battle for the Right, John Bull, 

Then you'll not rue the day. 
You rouse the Eagle from its nest 

In North America. 

Defend the right, defend the right, 
All you who love the laws, 

And battle for a Nation's rights 
In Freedom's holy cause. 



APPENDIX. 119 

Defend your homes, your lionor too, 

While strength to you is given. 
Until the foe, who Right assails, 

Is to subjection driven. 

Defend the right, defend tlie right, 

Let all true men combine 
To aid the right with all their might. 

And hail the glorious time 
"When we shall live in peace and love. 

And know no war or strife ; 
When Freedom in its father's God 

Proclaims, Defend the Right ! 

JAMES E. nrRNs. 



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